Short story... Ever since I got my 383 together, my S-Trim has been leaking out the front seal, even after a rebuild i had vortech do while doing the 383. Never leaked on my old 350 setup. It's leaked since break in start up. Oil return is in Vortech's recommended location, as was the old setup. Biggest fittings and line that I can fit also. Just got it back from Vortech again cause they wanted to go through it again. New bearings, seals (3rd front seal) and they verified the gears and shaft were in spec. They even filled it with oil and then pressurized it to 12psi to see if it would leak out the front seal and it wouldn't. But on the car, it leaks. Don't believe the crank case is pressurizing and causing an issue cause even when i drive around out of the boost, it will still leak. My last option is a second drain, but i'd like to avoid that if possible, especially if I don't know for sure it's gonna fix it. Anyone else had an issue like this or maybe have a different drain setup? Any help or input would be appreciated. Thanks.

Ken R.

 

I'll bet you a pepsi its the return. It needs to be above oil level and free flowing. 1/2" to 5/8" id all the way to the pan. You didn't install a high pressure pump at rebuild did you?

 

Return is above oil level (top front drivers side of oil pan) and using the biggest line and fitings I can, as far as i know. Can you get a 1/2" to 5/8" i.d fitting that will actually fit in the charger side? One size below a 5/8's line (i.d of the line is about 9/16's) and i.d. of the fittings is 3/8's. Yes, there is an HV Melling pump in there, which i suspect from time to time, but comparing pressures between my stocker and this Melling, it only runs about 12 to 15 psi more when hot. The HV runs a lot more when cold, but thats not when the charger starts to leak. My gut feeling was always the charger filling faster then it could drain, but when I brought that up to Ricky at vortech, he said that shouldn't be a problem, but I still wonder anyway.

Ken R.

 

Ya well, its the only thing that can cause the charger to leak if you haven't damaged a seal from flipping a belt. Don't underestimate the higher oil pressure when hot. I don't know a thing about vortech oil flow rates personally but I can tell you an ATI P600B is about 1/2 qt min at a 50 psi idle, a D1/D2 is 2 quarts at an idle. That's a lot of oil to return at just gravity feed. This is why you need such a large line unimpeded back to the pan.
ATI also tests all of their head units with air pressure underwater to ensure against leaks, so for it to leak you must really be running it full of oil.

 

Yeah, thats my thinking and been my thinking all along, but i'm probably just in denile. I'm gonna see if I can find any larger i.d. fittings to fit before going with a second drain, but think I may be forced to go for the second drain anyway. Problem with the Vortech's is that the drain holes are very close the the case itself, so you can only go so big before wrench part of the fitting actually hits the case, then it won't spin. You can run multiple drains though cause they have 3 seperate drain holes so you can run them depending you your configuration. Thanks for the input though. It's appreciated.

Ken R.

 

The oil inlet to the blower is a small brass tube with a hole on the end thats supposed to "spray" the gears. I'd ask vortech if they have a fitting with a smaller hole, I think the hole is .038, but dont quote me on that.

I have problems with the melling HV55 pump, the vortech leaks and the pump sucks some air under hard acceleration. I think the pick-up is a tad to high but let me know what they say about the fitting.

 

Is there another fitting on the top of the case you could tap a temporary pressure gauge into? That might help make your case to Vortech if you suspect poor drainage.

 

What about a restrictor in the oil feed line to lower the pressure you are getting???

 

Good input guys. I've also though of ways to decrease the amount of oil sprayed in the charger, but thats way at the bottom of the list. I want to exhaust all other options before persuing that. I did find larger fittings today. I found 9/16 i.d. barb fittings that i'm gonna change to before going with a second drain. Also upped to a 5/8's line. So i'm up from 3/8's i.d. barbs and I believe 7/16's or 1/2" drain line. If I have to go with a second drain, i'll be putting the larger line and barb fittings in there also. Vortech said they have a mod they somehow put between the oil feed and oil drain lines that somehow pressurize the case to an extent and they say it will force oil out to a point. That was an option they gave me if it still leaked when I got it back. I'm trying the larger lines first. I will post my results for those that are interested. Thanks again for the input.

Ken R.

 

They are probably running a boost reference line to the supercharger. I do not personally think that's a great idea as it has the potential to create more problems, but you could try it. Hey they make them and if they think its ok then give it a shot.

 

Well, the larger fittings and return line did not help. I have the largest fittings and line I can use for the drain now. Also put a restrictor in the 90 degree fitting I have on the end of the oil nozzle in the supercharger and still no help. I'm at a loss. The search for a fix continues....

Ken R.

 

Ken was the restrictor used smaller than then blower end of the oil feed line? Like I mentioned the hole is really small and it would take an even smaller restrictor. I think you can unscrew the fitting from the blower to get an idea on how big the hole is on the tip.

 

You could always use short pipe nipples on the drain holes for more clearance, but you'd still be limited by the 3/8" drain hole size. I don't see much benifit of going with a larger hose, when you've got the same 3/8" choke point on the housing. If there's a drainback problem, it seems like a dual hose setup would fix the problem though.

 

Speedmiser, when i'm talking larger fitting in the charger, i'm talking largest diameter that will fit while installed and still get a hose on there. Basically, the o.d. of the fitting is the same diameter now as the drain in the charger itself. So in essence, the diameter of the drain hole in the supercharger basically carries through all the way to the pan now vs fittings and line smaller then the charger drain hole. And Flip, I know what your saying about the oil nozzle. It's a small hole for sure. My goal was to try and limit the volume of oil somehow, but more or less found out that s#%@ really gets through there! Still waiting to hear back from vortech too. It's like watching grass grow waiting for those guys to call back. My worst fear is putting a second drain in and still having it leak. I don't have a problem putting in a second drain. It's just a pain in the a$$ and I don't feel like doing it. Since it's a Canton pan, if I don't put the second drain in the front, which i'd rather not, it will be tricky cause it's hard to tell now where the windage tray and stuff is in the pan. I still want to do more experimenting first before that, but am still entertaining suggestions. Thanks for the help though guys.

Ken R.

 

Any luck yet Ken?