Forgot to punch valley pan holes

[jhenegh]

Might've done myself no favors with this one: I forgot to punch holes in my valley pan where the drains. I now have what appears top be a leak from that area after having driven it about 800 miles since valley pan replacement. I have a small puddle of oil in the back of the valley pan and it is running out the pan drain and down/off the starter on the passenger side. It just started yesterday.

My turbo doesn't really come out without the engine as the slip joint is pretty well stuck and I've never tried to loosen it up. Is there any good way to get in there and punch some holes without major removals?

 

[OLDBULL8]

Ya got a Banks turbo? Just remove the oil return line, don't even have to take the grommett out, take a 1/4" rod and sharpen a point on it, a couple of holes will do, but 3-4 is better.

 

[jhenegh]

ATS 093 with the cast mount/drain

 

[jhenegh]

I think I'll try to take the exhaust collector loose tonight and see if I can get the turbo assembly to pop up 1" so I can get an awl in there to make some holes. I think I can get about that much before I start hitting the firewall.

 

[jaluhn83]

I'd be somewhat surprised if that's the problem - AFAIK pretty much every pan that's not 1980's OEM Ford comes with drain holes already so unless you found some NOS Ford/IH parts you should have the holes.

Also I would expect poor drainage to back pressure the turbo and push oil out the seals - ie you'd get smoke.

I think it's much more likely that the turbo to drain gasket is leaking or you have a leak from the oil feed or turbo body. I would double check the turbo to mount/drain pipe gasket/bolts - oil leaking here will run down the mount and be hard to see and then pool in the pan around the gromit.

 

[jhenegh]

I'd be somewhat surprised if that's the problem - AFAIK pretty much every pan that's not 1980's OEM Ford comes with drain holes already so unless you found some NOS Ford/IH parts you should have the holes.

Also I would expect poor drainage to back pressure the turbo and push oil out the seals - ie you'd get smoke.

I think it's much more likely that the turbo to drain gasket is leaking or you have a leak from the oil feed or turbo body. I would double check the turbo to mount/drain pipe gasket/bolts - oil leaking here will run down the mount and be hard to see and then pool in the pan around the gromit.

It didn't leak before this new pan got installed. It is an old IH part, it may be old enough to not have the holes. Part # was 1805389C3

 

[icanfixall]

I was thinking you might have used an older valley pan gasket or like already posted. The leak is from some other source. SAdly you will be better off punching holes and see if that repairs the leak. How did you install the drain back grommet and did you rtv the drain tube into it? I use plenty of rtv on the grommet to pan fit. I force rtv into the groove cut in the rubber grommet. Then place rtv on the bottom of the rube so it squeezes up as the tube is pressed into the grommet. That way there is no chance for a leak.

 

[jhenegh]

How did you install the drain back grommet and did you rtv the drain tube into it? I use plenty of rtv on the grommet to pan fit. I force rtv into the groove cut in the rubber grommet. Then place rtv on the bottom of the rube so it squeezes up as the tube is pressed into the grommet. That way there is no chance for a leak.

I just slid it all together, the same way I did back in December, and it didn't leak then

I'll see what I can discover tonight

 

[jhenegh]

I was able to pop the turbo up 1", enougj to brake clean the drain tube and existing grommet and punch 5-6 3/16" holes. I black RTV all around the grommet to turbo and grommet to pan. Messy work, but if the leak was from there I feel this'll get it. Rest of turbo wasn't taken apart during head job and rest of turbo and intake is dry. Gonna roll it in the garage and let it sit until tomorrow before firing.

Cross fingers!

Dinner time