Small Block Front Timing Cover...Help

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grego37

New Member

May 12, 2004

576

0

0

Fresno CA

Dec 14, 2006

#1

• Dec 14, 2006

• #1

On my 289/302/351w front timing cover, there are 2 areas where I always have a little coolant/water. Whenever i run the car and get back home there is a little coolant in the deep well type areas of the front cover (1 on each side) not much, just a table spoon or so. All my gaskets are good, so it shouldnt be the gaskets. I cleaned it out with a rag, and with my finger i can feel a boss or possibly factory hole 1/8 - 1/4" on each side,(back side of waterpump) and this would explain my issue.

can fill these holes with jb weld?
is this a factory thing?
are they some type of weep hole or something?
does something breathe from there?

thanks

 

1320stang

Founding Member

Nov 13, 1998

4,329

23

89

Edmond, Oklahoma

Dec 14, 2006

#2

• Dec 14, 2006

• #2

Pics would be nice. I don't recall anything, JB weld should take care of it. The weep hole should be on the water pump itself, not the timing cover.

 

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bnickel

Founding Member

Aug 21, 2002

5,640

3

77

lubbock, texas

Dec 14, 2006

#3

• Dec 14, 2006

• #3

if it's the boss i'm thinking of, the water pump bolts into those, there are 3 of them across the top of the timing cover.

it actually sounds like your timing cover is warped or corroded to the point that it's porous enough to allow coolant to seep through.

 

iskwezm

10 Year Member

May 24, 2005

4,159

20

79

Rowland Heights,California

Dec 14, 2006

#4

• Dec 14, 2006

• #4

check the upper hose and t/stat housing. Sometimes those corrde and the water will either drip or spray into the little valleys. The open hols are bolt holes and shouldnt be leaking from there.

 

1320stang

Founding Member

Nov 13, 1998

4,329

23

89

Edmond, Oklahoma

Dec 14, 2006

#5

• Dec 14, 2006

• #5

Guys, maybe a 1/4" hole, but not an 1/8" hole. I think those are closer to 5/16" or 3/8", but you may be right....

 

yeloxr7

Member

Apr 18, 2005

429

0

16

Dec 15, 2006

#6

• Dec 15, 2006

• #6

Your intake manifold may be leaking coolant as well. There is a coolant crossover passage at the front of the manifold, and if the manifold is installed incorrectly )gaskets reversed or torn) or the bolts are not torqued properly it will leak and fill up those little "wells".

 

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drbobj67

New Member

Sep 22, 2006

59

0

0

Dec 15, 2006

#7

• Dec 15, 2006

• #7

On my 289 I was having a similar issue. coolant fluid on the top surface of the timing chain cover. Like you mention the "wells". At one point it suddenly got worse on the freeway. I started getting some fluid on the windshield. I pulled over and had it towed home. There was a hole corroded through the timing chain cover. I was in a dillema because I was supposed to be on my way to LA (2hours away). I bought some of the new version of JB weld. It is supposed to cure faster. But the label still says cure for 4 hour and wait overnight till use. I didn't have that kind of time. So after about a little over an hour and application of a heat gun. I left for LA and it has worked fine. Soon I will replace the cover anyway but if you do have a hole that needs to be patched JB weld will do the trick, in my experience.

 

D

dewdrop

Member

Oct 9, 2005

62

1

9

East Tenn

Dec 15, 2006

#8

• Dec 15, 2006

• #8

If it's like mine was, it's just the gasket next to the engine block. They get old and leak. Kind of a pain to change, but fixed my leak in the same place

 

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grego37

New Member

May 12, 2004

576

0

0

Fresno CA

Dec 15, 2006

#9

• Dec 15, 2006

• #9

its no gasket issue. I can actually see a bubble of fluid come out of the hole every minute or so, after i drive and shut the car off.
I am filling the holes/boss area and the floors of the reservoior areas with jb weld as we speak.
thanks
done...............