I’ve been rather enjoying myself while adding the accessories to the motor—taking it slow, working generally when the weather is nice and making steady progress.
Last week I tackled the PCV system, throttle linkage, soup can reservoir and the carb (temporarily, as I need new gaskets). I also installed the water pump and the heater hoses.
Today, I was determined to finish the cooling system. I cleaned up the radiator, then put it in after the fan and overflow tank were in place.
Everything was going well until I added coolant. Even with no pressure in the system, there were two small leaks: one from the water pump, apparently seeping out around one of the bolts.
This is probably my fault. I had to loosen the pump after it was on for an hour when I realized I forgot that tiny hose that connects it to the manifold. The sealant was still wet after removal, so I figured I could get away with reusing the gaskets.
Apparently not!
The second is some weeping around a freeze plug, which I really can’t explain. These I installed some time ago, even taking the precaution of adding a little sealant around the opening before I drove it in. I can’t see any reason for it to leak, nor what I can do different when I replace it.
Before quitting for the day, I drained the new coolant. I’ll probably take a couple of days off before digging back down to the pump. With the coolant out, I’ll likely tackle the plug then, too, though I’m not looking forward to that at all.
Next time if you have to remove the water pump to install the small short hose from the top of the water pump to the intake manifold here’s a short cut… Cut the hose to length, then install the hose in an upside down ‘V’ so the hose ends are caught on he hose barbs. Now here’s the magical part to installing the hose the rest of the way, take a mallet, dead blow hammer and whack the hose at the pointy section of the hose… That’s all there is to it…
Great tip! I did try to muscle the hose on at first, but didn’t think about a mallet.
Steve, you wouldn’t think of that since it’s a strange fix… but it works! I wish I could remember who told that to me so I could pass on the credit…
Some of those water pump bolts require thread sealant since they go into an open hole straight into the cooling system
Hmmm. Do you suppose it’s worth pulling the bolt, smearing on sealant and trying again?