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I have a 57 corvette and I just replaced the radiator. I filled it up and now I have a significant leak what appears to be behind the harmonic balancer? How can the be and how can I fix it ????
I have a 57 corvette and I just replaced the radiator. I filled it up and now I have a significant leak what appears to be behind the harmonic balancer? How can the be and how can I fix it ????
Your lower water hose must not be sealing to the water pump or the water pump is leaking, there is no water jacket in the block that low.
how to fix it, first identify where the leak is. That might require getting the car up in the air and using a flashlight, mirror, etc to follow the trail of coolant up to it's source. Or maybe just use a mirror and light, from above.
The water pump can leak at the seal, which usually results in liquid coming out the "weep hole" below the bearing. It can also leak at the back cover, and the mounting surfaces at the motor mount cradle and block. But the hose clamp not tight enough on the lower hose is probably most common, after working on the car. Although if you also removed and replaced the fan belt, you could have disturbed the shaft seal.
Unrelated sources of leaks up there are the front block core plugs, intake manifold gasket, thermostat housing and upper hose, heater hoses and fittings, etc.
So yeah, we can only guess at what's really leaking. You, however, can do some investigating and figure it out.
Thanks Walley, lower hose is OK so it must be the water pump.... Just felt around and can't feel it BUT that must be it.... Really screwed up system.... Water pump mounts to engine mount plate with gasket then engine mount plate with gasket mounts to block.... When you are tightening the water pump bolts you are moving the entire engine forward which is tough to judge how tight you can get the bolts before they strip out of the block..... I have them now as tight as I dare BUT must get them a little tighter....
Thanks Walley, lower hose is OK so it must be the water pump.... Just felt around and can't feel it BUT that must be it.... Really screwed up system.... Water pump mounts to engine mount plate with gasket then engine mount plate with gasket mounts to block.... When you are tightening the water pump bolts you are moving the entire engine forward which is tough to judge how tight you can get the bolts before they strip out of the block..... I have them now as tight as I dare BUT must get them a little tighter....
Your welcome,
I am assuming you have the motor jacked up and the motor mount cross brace removed. Use a flapper wheel and make sure both side of the motor mount bracket where the gaskets sit is down to bare metal
My advise is to purchase good water pump gaskets (4) and seal (2) of them to the block and seal (2) of them to the water pump, let sealent dry, then slip motor mount plate and water pump back on to block
Your welcome,
I am assuming you have the motor jacked up and the motor mount cross brace removed. Use a flapper wheel and make sure both side of the motor mount bracket where the gaskets sit is down to bare metal
My advise is to purchase good water pump gaskets (4) and seal (2) of them to the block and seal (2) of them to the water pump, let sealent dry, then slip motor mount plate and water pump back on to block
I did a good job installing the water pump with the 4 gaskets on bare metal.... Must be leaking between motor mount plate and the block.... I am using a 3/8 drive socket and a long pipe for leverage.... Hope it seals BEFORE the bolts strip out of the block....
I did a good job installing the water pump with the 4 gaskets on bare metal.... Must be leaking between motor mount plate and the block.... I am using a 3/8 drive socket and a long pipe for leverage.... Hope it seals BEFORE the bolts strip out of the block....
If you are using good "Thick" gaskets and sealent (both sides) you should not need to tighten so tight
Thanks for all the help.... IT must be leaking between the motor mount and the block..... Walley, I am going to completely disassemble the front of the motor AGAIN. Take water pump and front motor mount OFF and completely clean to bare metal and get 4 new water pump gaskets. I have also decided to try to loosen the transmission mount so the engine can move forward more easily - - if that is possible...
As you go forward with your project the info in the attached PDFs may be of some help, particularly the part about supporting the engine from below to remove the front motor mount bracket.
Dave Z
HI Walley, Well you got me going the right way.... Last week when I installing the water pump, I installed the water pump first and you can not put the motor mount on. So I put the motor mount on first and then the pump, but there was a space between the motor mount and the block that I could not tighten.
So this time, I put the motor mount bolts in with the nuts on but not tight. I then installed the water pump with the motor mount plate and it completely moved the motor mount a 1/4" and I now have a good seal on the water pump..... Now I will tight the motor mounts.... That should do it.....
Last edited by rlgerst@msn.com; 08-26-2023 at 09:51 AM.
Originally Posted by rlgerst@msn.com;16069801nice to hear02
HI Walley, Well you got me going the right way.... Last week when I installing the water pump, I installed the water pump first and you can not put the motor mount on. So I put the motor mount on first and then the pump, but there was a space between the motor mount and the block that I could not tight.
So this time, I put the motor mount bolts in with the nuts on but not tight. I then installed the water pump with the motor mount plate and it completely moved the motor mount a 1/4" and I now have a good seal on the water pump..... Now I will tight the motor mounts.... That should do it.....
Good progress. As you’ve learned you do not mount the motor mount to the frame mounts until after the water pump and motor mount have been fully bolted to the engine. Then the engine can be lowered until the motor mount settles on the frame mounts. Also never use a long bar for leverage on something with a 25 ft-lb torque spec.
A long way from driving it.... I bought a 57 fuelie that had been stored in a garage under a cover for 24 years.... I sincerely thought that it was just asleep and I would wake it up.... Well, I have been working on it night and day for 2 months and slowing I am making progress.... Maybe I can find some MUCH needed help on the C1 forum !!!!! I will start a new thread on "waking a 57 fuelie" and tell my story....
08-25-2023, 09:53 AM
water leak behind harmonic balancer
