Is it normal to get oil out of the bolt holes when you remove the flexplate to change it? When we removed the bolts as we loosened them to change a bad flexplate we started getting crankcase oil draining from the bolt holes. Is this normal on the early 302's? Thanks for any info you can give to us.

Sam

 

The crankshaft is bored all the way throught - so some oil does sit up in there as it is sloshed around inside the motor. When you replace a flywheel/flexplate on a 302, you should always use loctite or a sealant on the flywheel/flexplate bolts to prevent a slow steady leak. Some leakage upon removal of the bolts would be normal.

 

Thanks Cheggie, This is our first Ford so sometimes I feel as if we are groping around in the dark.

Sam

 

doesnt sound right. could be more like your rear main seal is going to me. id have to look at my 302 that came out of my bronco but i dont remember any oil on them. could be wrong though

 

I remember hearing from an older ford worker that some of the cranks were bored all the way through. However I have never had the problem but the only flywheel I replaced was on a 351c. I wouldnt worry about it because I do remember hearing something of that sort a while back.

 

I just changed my motor and the previous post is correct the bolt holes for the flexplate/flywheel are bored right through and the oil from the back of the rear main could seep out if one of the 6 bolts was removed and as a general practice locktite should be used on those bolts to prevent them from loosening and prevent any seepage but if the bolt was tight it would be minimal.