The Problem
For those not familiar with the front seal design on the Studebaker Champion engine, it is a thick felt ring that has a tendency to seep oil down the front of the oil pan and all that follows. Some leak more than others that I suspect has a lot to do with the oil flow in the timing gear area. The oil in this area is supplied by the oil pressure bypass valve. The valve opens when oil pressure gets to high mainly at the start of a cold engine. There is a hole in the valve plunger that supplies oil when the valve is not open. Oil also enters the area via the front main bearing and the front cam bearing. A solution was developed for the Studebaker V8 but not the Champion 6 so I thought I would make a stab at it. The Champion solution I came up with is not much different than the one for the V8. Basically one replaces the old felt seal with a modern neoprene lip seal. Because the hub that interfaces with the seal has a spiral groove intended to guide the oil back into the engine would inter...