VP 300 (5.7) Timing Cover / Oil Pan Leak

[billk2632]

At the topic says - my 2014 VP300 (5.7) has developed a small oil leak. At this point it is very small, I am seeing a few drops of oil in the bilge every few hours of run time. Almost 100% sure it's the timing cover/oilplan gasket as the drip is at the very bottom where they match up. The 4.3 Mercruiser in my SeaRay leaked in pretty much the same spot, never got bad and I ran it 800hrs and did not fix it, just kept an oil pad under the engine and wiped it off occasionally - never a cause to add oil. This is going to drive me nuts because so far (375hrs) this R5 is been just perfect. Unless it get's worse I probably won't do anything - I am going to (very carefully) check the timing cover and oil pan bolts to be sure they have not loosened up -- I doubt they have. Think it's just the well known problem on about any GM small block - I think a large number of them eventually leak oil.
So that's the problem, would like to know if anyone else is dealing with same or has fixed it -- I think on the R5 the timing cover can be replaced without pulling the engine - at least it looks like there is enough room.