hey
I have a very small and weird coolant leak somewhere. Its rebuild 12a and i've been running it this summer for the first time... i've noticed little puddles of coolant right below the carb where the intake meets the engine housing. iwwas wondering if anyone else had a problem like this. i cant find where the coolant is coming form.

thanks in advance

kris

 

You might try checking the two o-rings that are behind the intake manifold? Each one is about the size of a quarter. It doesn't make sense to me that this would cause coolant to puddle on top of the manifold though. If you have a leak at the manifold it should be dripping down below on top of your exhaust manifold. You might also check the water neck gasket (where your thermostat goes) or where the upper radiator hose connect to the water neck.

If the upper radiator hose is leaking there is a small chance that it could be puddling up underneath your carburetor. These are just three things to check...

Jamie

 

I had a first gen many years ago that would develop a coolant leak right where you describe it and it happened every time I jacked the front end up for service. It was the weirdest thing and never leaked when on the ground. If the leak that you're describing is persistent, and if new o-rings were used when the rebuilt engine was reinstalled, I'd say the sealing surfaces on the intake and/or the rotor housings may be pitted or may not have been cleaned properly. Also (and as Glazedham42 also pointed out), when hoses are reattached onto the water pump housing spigots, there might not be a good enough seal if the surfaces were rusted/pitted. It sounds like seepage....hopefully not rotor housing to iron seepage.

 

it's the intake o rings..I had the same puddles, replace them, they are worn..just get some freeze plugs(20 mm) and put those in there..won't hurt the cooling process..just prevents it from happening again..

 

+1 on the intake coolant orings.

 

Gotta be the o-rings. Get a new intake manifold gasket too.

 

I think someone here might have mentioned coolant from the intake

Use freeze plugs as recommended...

Scott

 

I WAS FIRST!!!!

 

thanks guys

i know this might be a stupid question
so should i get the o-rings or the freeze plugs (what are freeze plugs exactly), and when you say they are behind the intake manifold do you mean between the manifold and engine housing?

 

You have to remove the intake manifold to either replace the o-rings or put in the freeze plugs. I used o-rings but truly wish I had just put in the freeze plugs.

Do a search on the plugs, I don't remember their size.

 

The expansion or freeze plugs are 20mm. Get 'em at a parts store (I think Napa has 'em. )

 

Freeze plug part number is 555-101 Dorman.

The only downside to using these with a stock intake/carb is the possibility of carb icing during cold weather. After market intakes usually have the passages blocked on the intake, and rely on just the orings to seal. I prefer to use the freeze plugs to insure they don't leak.

 

So are you guys putting the freeze plugs into the intake manifold or into the engine? I put mine into the intake manifold and then put in new rubber o-rings to seal the leaks...

 

Put them in the engine, so when you take off the manifold in the future, coolant wont pour out.