Oil leak from filter

[outcruisen]

Hi all.. Keep getting a leak from what I thought was my oil filter on my 57 Fairlane with a 312... Today I went to change the filter for the 3rd time in 6 months, but for some reason this time I played with the hollow bolt in the middle (Thing filter screws onto), for it to unscrew into my hand.

When I took the backing plate off too, all oil cam rushing out from behind it. Guessing this plate is what has been leaking the whole time and not the filter at all? Every time I put on a new filter I must have tightened the threaded bolt, then over a few drives it worked loose again..

Anyway, there seems to be a tin plate behind this that has TOP stamped in it and 2 elongated holes (approx. 1" each) at the top.

Questions.. 1/ Are both plates required (This pressed item stuck to the block and thicker item that had the oil trapped behind it)?
                 2/ If the second plate is required is there a gasket that should be between the 2?
                 3/ If a gasket is required, can an oil resistant sealer be used instead for a better more permanent seal?

Just a tinkerer here and no mechanic, but I am sick of that 1 oil leak and the old girl has taken me so long to rebuild I would love to have this minor hiccup sorted out once and for all. Sort of embarrassing when I pull up out front of someone's house or at a car show as there is a pool of oil under the car as soon as I park. We aren't talking a couple of drops here...

Any help would be greatly appreciated..

Cheers from Down Under...

[Mark]

Check out this link, http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/Topic83442.aspx     I had the some trouble, easy to fix    Mark