Hey guys. Today I hooked up my hoses and water pump (gasp!) to my engine. slight dripping coming from the water pump so i'll take it off and apart to check it out. There's another leak though that confuses me. It's on the carb manifold side of the engine. There's a little nickel sized hole that looks like it's plugged with cork in it. There is a slight weep/dripping coming out of the bottom of it. What is this hole exacly, and how do I fix this slight weeping/leak? The rate it's leaking would take a couple days to drain the radiator but it needs attention obviously.
That's the freeze plug- just a piece of flat metal or a nick pressed in there. Try tapping and re-seating the plug.
James meant to say "nickel", they make excellent freeze plugs.
Here's more info on using a nickel as a freeze plug:
http://www.dauntlessgeezer.com/DG87.html
I had a pin-hole leak in mine. The MTFCA Tinkering Tips said to pull out the leaky plug and replace it with a 5 cent peace; a nickel. You have to dent in the nickel with the round edge of a ball peen hammer so it is concave (do this on the non-head side) use a socket to do this, file the nickel around the edges so it will fit in the freeze plug hole. Put the concave side in the hole so the convex is out (the head side), and tap in place. Try to have Jefferson’s head right side up and looking at you. They said nickel does not rust. It works!!
Mathew, it is possible to take the old leaking plug out and replace it with either a new freeze plug or if you want you can use a nickel. You will need to dimple the nickel I used a socket and a punch then insert in the block and dimple back the other way to seal. I also use a little silicone to help seal the freeze plugs.
In the block below I had ordered a set of 3 brass freeze plugs the envelope I received only had two so I used a nickel for the third.
thanks guys, i'll give it a shot and let you know how it went. Now, any suggestions as to how to stop the drip in the water pump?
The brass plugs are better than the steel ones. Steel will rust out. Put the center convex toward the outside. Use some gasket sealer or locktite around the hole and tap in place. When it is seated in the hole, tap in the center to spread it tight.
Norm
The best way to fix the water pump drip is to replace the water pump with a standard inlet. The second best way is to tighten the water pump packing nut and/or place new packing in it.
If the car has a good radiator it doesn't need a pump and it sure saves potential problems to leave it off.
Norm
You need to repack the water pump gland. Unscrew the nut on the shaft and replace the packing material, available at plumbing stores or pump shops. If you have an old pump and the shaft is scarred up where the packing rides, the shaft or whole pump must be replaced. At that point consider a new radiator and you won't need a pump. Why not replace the pump with an original inlet fitting and see how it works? If is doesn't heat up, you are set to go. If it does, Find and repair the cause. Can be many things.
Fordially, Erik
Usually if you have a leaky pump packing it's telling you it needs greased.Bud.
Good point Kenneth. Not all pump have grease fittings though.
Erik
The best why to fix a water pump is to through it away!
My experience was water leaking out of one of the four manifold studs. Obviously the threaded hole had entered the water jacket. I cured this by extending the thread on the stud and adding a "O" Ring, flat washer and an additional nut to load the ring against the block. Also, used liquid thread tape on the threaded section within the block. Problem fixed
Alan in Western Australia
Matthew Atchinson:
You can buy NEW soft plugs at any parts dealer like NAPA.
I've never had a leaking water pump. They are all hanging on the wall.
My water pump never leaks.
I remember the time (about 1955) when we were in my dad's 22 T on the way to my grandfathers in New Bedford Mass and it blew out a freeze plug.
He stopped near and old garage and an old guy came out with a big smile.
After looking at it for a few minutes, left and came back with a broom, a small saw, and a knife.
He cut about 6 inches off the broom handle then tapered it with the knife, stuck it in the hole, and filled it with water.
He smiled and said "I haven't done that in years!"
Later dad replaced the broom handle with a nickel