i have an oil leak and im having a hard time pinpointing where it is comming from. everything is only coated in oil aroun the area where my mechanical fuel pump is any suggestions to where its comming from?

$20 says you're missing the bolt in the fuel pump pushrod bolt hole. Without a (very short) bolt in this hole it's open to the crankcase on the back and will spray out oil/vapors while you're running, especially under heavy load.

Somebody will post up a picture and you'll say "ah hah!"

+1... Had the same problem a few months ago on my friends new motor, then noticed it on my own.

Drove me nuts trying to figure out where the oil was coming from, so i just popped bolts everywhere till it stopped

http://www.geocities.com/pcwright77/sbcfront.jpg

You could also attemped to degrease the area, then let it idle for a few minutes to see if the leak reappears.

If this is a new engine, then likely the bolt is missing like already mentioned. If this is an engine that has been working for a long time without leaking, then I'd guess your fuel pump is leaking. Since the fuel pump sits into the crankcase, it can leak either gas or oil depending on where it develops the leak.

+1^^^ Could be the fuel pump gasket...

After checking for the missing bolt.....

Spray the area with degreaser and rinse off.
When dry... Spray with foot powder. (It's mostly white talcum powder and will wash off later.)
Start the engine and look for the leak in the white powder. :D

....and if you get pulled over, explain to the officer that it really is foot powder.

does it make a differance if i have a 305 im the car i bought it that way.

Any small block Chevy has this same bolt hole.