The Ford Barn

slackcat · 02-16-2014, 09:00 PM

Two castle nuts on the front of the block, are those on the main bearing bolts? I'm curious because I have radiator fluid seeping from under the nuts and need advice as to what I'm looking at.

dlshady · 02-16-2014, 09:04 PM

Yes, they're the front main cap bolts. I suspect that you actually have antifreeze leaking from the water pump or head gasket and accumulating down there. There's not really any way possible for antifreeze to weep out from underneath them as there's no water passages in that area.

tbirdtbird · 02-16-2014, 10:00 PM

Agree. do not touch those castle nuts.

Tom Wesenberg · 02-16-2014, 10:36 PM

If you don't have 2 lead packing rings well coated with grease inside the adjustment nut on the water pump, it will drip. Mine has been completely leakless since I rebuilt it over 10 years ago with grease cover lead packing rings. Before I smeared grease around the rings during installation it would drip about 1 drop every few minutes. A little grease completely stopped the dripping.

slackcat · 02-17-2014, 06:32 AM

OK, thanks guys. Has to be the water pump dripping because it's dry around the head gasket, a real head scratcher for me. This little engine has given me fits since we bought the car. Put a copper head gasket in last month and cleaned the gunk from behind the side cover. Will be changing oil a couple more times to see if the oil clears up, milky.

Patrick L. · 02-17-2014, 06:43 AM

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Depending on the water pump, if it still has original type chevron packing it'll be adjustable. The adjustment will be there regardless, but, it can be tightened [maybe] slightly and checked for leaks. Go slow and easy. It shouldn't drip much. Its common to see the front main retainers all rusted to heck from that.

02-16-2014, 09:00 PM	#1
slackcat Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Galesburg, KS Posts: 87	Front main bearing bolts??? Two castle nuts on the front of the block, are those on the main bearing bolts? I'm curious because I have radiator fluid seeping from under the nuts and need advice as to what I'm looking at.

02-16-2014, 09:04 PM	#2
dlshady Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 538	Re: Front main bearing bolts??? Yes, they're the front main cap bolts. I suspect that you actually have antifreeze leaking from the water pump or head gasket and accumulating down there. There's not really any way possible for antifreeze to weep out from underneath them as there's no water passages in that area. __________________ My latest build thread: http://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67881

02-16-2014, 10:00 PM	#3
tbirdtbird BANNED Join Date: May 2012 Location: inside your RAM Posts: 3,134	Re: Front main bearing bolts??? Agree. do not touch those castle nuts. __________________ '31 180A

02-16-2014, 10:36 PM	#4
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Front main bearing bolts??? If you don't have 2 lead packing rings well coated with grease inside the adjustment nut on the water pump, it will drip. Mine has been completely leakless since I rebuilt it over 10 years ago with grease cover lead packing rings. Before I smeared grease around the rings during installation it would drip about 1 drop every few minutes. A little grease completely stopped the dripping.

02-17-2014, 06:32 AM	#5
slackcat Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Galesburg, KS Posts: 87	Re: Front main bearing bolts??? OK, thanks guys. Has to be the water pump dripping because it's dry around the head gasket, a real head scratcher for me. This little engine has given me fits since we bought the car. Put a copper head gasket in last month and cleaned the gunk from behind the side cover. Will be changing oil a couple more times to see if the oil clears up, milky.

02-17-2014, 06:43 AM	#6
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Front main bearing bolts??? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Depending on the water pump, if it still has original type chevron packing it'll be adjustable. The adjustment will be there regardless, but, it can be tightened [maybe] slightly and checked for leaks. Go slow and easy. It shouldn't drip much. Its common to see the front main retainers all rusted to heck from that.