I was looking around the engine compartment yesterday and saw some oil on top of the intake back by the distributor. I am not sure where it is coming from or where it could come from. It doesn't look like it is coming from my valve covers. Everything runs fine and I do not see a drop in my oil so I it might be a small leak. Could it come from my distributor? Not sure about this one?
Thank you.

 

Very well could be from the dist seal. Wipe it off, check it every few days and you may be able to make a determination. How much and is the oil dirty ( dust dirt )? The dirtier it is, the longer it has been there.

 

The oil is new (still liquid). Is the dist seal difficult to replace. I have a service manual so I will look in there. It is a 1979 L-48

 

I had the same problem. Replace the distributor gasket and put a little silicone sealer on the gasket.

 

Is the oil sending unit in that same area? That can leak too. PG.

 

You might also check the PCV hose. I have seen them drip on occasion.
I had a friend who thought he had oil under his carb. Turned out to be a small gas leak that was puddling and evaporating.
Good luck

 

Remove the dist cap and note the position of the rotor. Remove the lock down bolt and clamp. Pull the dist, it will rotate slightly, about 1/8 of a turn. Lightly silicone the new gasket on both sides and install the new gasket on the dist. Re-install the dist making sure that the rotor lines up to the same point, you will have to rotate the dist slightly as you slip it back in, to get it to line back up. Note that the dist will drop down completely, if not, you're not lined up propperly. DO NOT CRANK THE ENGINE OVER WHILE THE DIST IS OUT, if you do, you will have to reset the timing. Re-install the lock down clamp and bolt. Put the cap back on.
You're done. Takes about 10 min.

 

I will get a new dist gasket and PCV valve and do them both this week. I guess I will check the carb also while I am playing around there. I will let you know how it goes.

 

While I was changing the gasket out on the distributor and the carb, I decided to change the intake gasket also. Everything went real good except when I went to start it. Usually it starts right up on the first time. This time it took some cranking and when it did catch, it was running at about 3000 rpm and it backfired so I shut it down. I tried again and it was turning over real hard and it wouldn't start. Did I put the dist on wrong, i thought I lined everything up with my marks. Looks nice but won run.....

 

Sounds an awful like it's advanced. Turn the distributor a few degrees in the direction that the rotor rotates and try again. Ultimately you will need to put a timing light on it'
Ron