Mystery leak

[Borninthefifties]

I'm pouring water in the radiator and it's leaking out the back of the engine. Anybody have any idea what's going on here?

[Synchro909]

Rust through in the water jacket. In a non pressurised cooling system like the Model A, it can be patched but it's engine out to do it.

[redmodelt]

Where exactly is it leaking; head, block or?

[Borninthefifties]

I'm not sure. I can see drops coming off the spot where the flywheel housing bolts to the block. I'll try to pinpoint this.

[CWPASADENA]

With a mirror and a good light, you should be able to see back there.

Chris W.

[Borninthefifties]

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Could this be a bad head, or head gasket?

[redmodelt]

It could.

[Synchro909]

All sorts of possibilities. A good look with a light and a mirror should reveal all. Pleas let us know what you find.

[1931 flamingo]

Before you panic, try re-torqueing the head. FWIW

Paul in CT

[John]

You can remove the floorboards for a better point of view. Most likely it is not good news.

[Borninthefifties]

Thanks to one and all for the input. I wont be able to get to this today. I will try to hunt down the source of the leak.

[Borninthefifties]

1931 flamingo. I did retorque the head. Curious that all the nuts were around the 35 pound range. Put them at 55 pounds. I went from 35 to 45 to 55 in the proper sequence. Could this have made a preexisting crack worse?

[Borninthefifties]

I also found it curious that the car was shipped a gallon and a half low on coolant.

[1crosscut]

If it is a gallon and a half low it could be a head gasket and it leaked down to the level of the head gasket. Sounds to be about the right amount of coolant that would have been lost.

[[email protected]]

I always had good luck finding cracks in the outer cooling jacket areas by first air blowing everything dry. Then dust the suspected area (s) with talcum powder. The moisture from any crack is then pretty visible. it is just like dusting for finger prints to find the guilty culprit.......

[Borninthefifties]

Hope to at least look at this today but , I was wondering if a head torqued at 35 lbs. would tend to blow a gasket? I've only driven this car a total of five miles and it's had issues right from the get go.

[Borninthefifties]

Well, I had the wife pour water in the radiator while I looked at the back of the engine. The water is coming out of the bolt hole, passenger side, at the location where the flywheel housing is bolted and shimmed to the block. Doesn't seem good.

[1crosscut]

Might not be so bad. Someone might have put a bolt in that was too long or something along that line and knocked the back of the blind hole open into the water jacket. Pull the bolt out and clean the threaded hole up and seal the coat the threads in the bolt hole and the bolt with Indian Head Shellac or Silicone gasket maker and put it back together again. Wait 24-48 hours and give it a go.

[Borninthefifties]

It's coming out quite vigorously. Could this scenario still be valid?

[1crosscut]

Originally Posted by Borninthefifties

I also found it curious that the car was shipped a gallon and a half low on coolant.

Was it shipped from a location that would have freezing temperatures. If so it could be a freeze crack and that could be more troublesome.

[Jack Shaft]

Ifs and buts will drive you nuts..sounds like you have a coolant leak..fix it

[Borninthefifties]

It was shipped from Minnesota, but it was shipped in August.

[Borninthefifties]

Aloha Mr. Shaft, I would very much like to fix all this, but I don't know all that much about what I'm doing, and that is why I'm here looking for answers and help.

[1crosscut]

Being from Minnesota it could have frozen at some point in the past and not necessarily during shipping. That is a hard place to get a good look at. I'd suggest pulling the floor boards out and removing the accelerator bracket to get a better look. Hopefully it is as simple as sealing the threads of the bolt. If not you might have to pull the engine out.

[nkaminar]

If you pull the bolts from the flywheel housing, check for shims between the housing and the engine and make sure they do not fall down into the housing. A couple strong magnets may secure any shims.

If it was me I would pull the engine and take it apart. But I have had 60 years experience working on cars so that is not for everyone. I make it a habit of taking an engine apart for inspection on any new car, especially one that is suspect.

You may want to get some expert help. Depending on where you are there are people who post on this site who work on Model A's professionally.

[CWPASADENA]

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A couple strong magnets may secure any shims.

The shims usually are brass. I do not think a magnet would help unless someone made some steel shims.

Chris W.

[CWPASADENA]

Originally Posted by 1crosscut

Might not be so bad. Someone might have put a bolt in that was too long or something along that line and knocked the back of the blind hole open into the water jacket. Pull the bolt out and clean the threaded hole up and seal the coat the threads in the bolt hole and the bolt with Indian Head Shellac or Silicone gasket maker and put it back together again. Wait 24-48 hours and give it a go.

I agree, clean everything the best you can, put some sealer on the bolt and re-install it.

Best case, it will work and be a good repair.

Worse case, there is more of a problem than you are able to determine and will need further examination.

My opinion,

Chris W.