85Project

I need some help from folks with more experience than myself. I finally got around (4 years later) to putting the new water pump on my 85. So far so good.

Next I try pouring some water into the block through the thermostat opening. Water runs right out of...somewhere. Problem is I can't see from where!

• Not from where the pump meets the block.
• Not from either of the hoses to the heater or the radiator.

But wherever it's leaking from it's a pretty quick trip through the block from the thermostat opening to the ground.

I've got a really bad feeling about this. Any thoughts?

torchred89

check freeze plugs

oldalaskaman

if it didnt leak before you swapped the pump it something you missed

85Project

Freeze plugs was my first thought. The one I can see is good but I'm going to have to look up the locations of the rest of them - I foresee engine removal in my future.

Cliff Harris

From the front or bottom? Passenger side or driver's side?

If front, I would be looking at the radiator to water pump hose and the throttle body anti-icing hose.

If the bottom, it could be the knock sensor on the passenger side or the plug/oil cooler hose on the driver's side.

Keystring

You need to get a friend to help you find the leak.

Jack up the car and lay on the ground, while your friend pours the anti-freeze in, so you can see where it is going.

2 of the freeze plugs are at the rear of the block. Hopefully it's not one of them.

I noticed you live in Massachusetts. Did you happen to put any water in the engine when the pump went out?

If so, you may have cracked the block. Check your oil for signs of water or anti-freeze.

oldalaskaman

how bout bleed hole in bottom of W/P

383vett

If it happened right after the water pump installation, why would it be a freeze plug? Check the radiator petcock or the lower hose going to the water pump or the heater hose to the water pump.

Deepa

knock sensor?

Keystring

The car was apparently sitting for 4 years before he decided to fix it and if he had put water in it, when it first went out, it could have frozen up and popped a freeze plug, or cracked the block, during that time.

I can't imagine that he drove it all that time with a bad water pump.

85Project

Or at least I think we do. Folks thanks for all your input. I flushed the block over the summer and am 100% sure I didn't get all the water out of it. I'm betting on a cracked block.

I've always wanted to try rebuilding an engine so I guess now I've got an excuse. It'll be an adventure, right? What the heck. If I really did crack the block it's not like I can break it any more.