So Far...So Good...(Water Neck Leak)

[94GTLaserRC]

Those of you that have been following my 6-day, 3-attempt Tstat housing/gasket assembly:

I did the grinding and fitting and all that stuff...

Anyway, let it sit since 1PM yesterday..Got home from work at 6 and filled her up, let her heat up, TSTAT opened (was a little worried since it was a new one), let the bubbles out, temp leveled off at 180*

SO I took it for a 5-minute drive, let it sit for 30 minutes, and drove it again for about 5 minutes...Checked..and so far NO dripping

Anyway...this is the point I got on the previous 2 attempts, then when I drove it to work the next day, I saw the slight dripping.

I'll drive it in the AM and see what happens. If it does leak, it will probably be only a slight dripping, but hopefully, that wont happen.

WISH ME LUCK IN THE AM...I dont think I can handle doing this again!

THANKS
RC

 

[4Jenna]

Good Luck Man!!!

 

[1105]

$5 says its going to drip! j/k Good luck with it RC and hope this is the lat time you have to do it.

 

[SexyStang1994]

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!


you wont need it though,

 

[94TURBO5 O]

I hope it works out for you this time man.
I keep re-living my nightmare over and over everytime I read your frustration with this damn neck!
I hope mine will be fine when I put it all back together, I will use a boat load of black rtv this time.

 

[95BLKGT5.0]

Dude you got me worried. I just replaced my tstat (with holes drilled in it 180) and gasket and installed a Ford Racing chrome water neck. I have not filled it yet because I am waiting for a new hose kit so I can replace all the hoses.
Should I pull the bolts out one at a time and put more RVT on them and tighten them so I don't have headakes, leaks and problems like you had.


Or should I pull it off and redo the RVT.

Or should I just chance it and fill it up and cross my fingers

:damnit: :damnit: :damnit: :damnit:

 

[Venom351R]

Good luck, but what are you going to do if it does leak? If it does Id assume that its the lower intake and not the Tstat housing. I Have a friend w/ a 91 LX and he has a chrome housing, no leaking problems for him

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Dude you got me worried. I just replaced my tstat (with holes drilled in it 180) and gasket and installed a Ford Racing chrome water neck. I have not filled it yet because I am waiting for a new hose kit so I can replace all the hoses.
Should I pull the bolts out one at a time and put more RVT on them and tighten them so I don't have headakes, leaks and problems like you had.


Or should I pull it off and redo the RVT.

Or should I just chance it and fill it up and cross my fingers

:damnit: :damnit: :damnit: :damnit:

If you think you did it ok, I would NOT pull it off just yet..
I did this twice before with the same water neck and it didnt leak. I think it was leaking now because it warped (from what I read from others) and what happened was I kept trying to redo it a little better before giving up and going to a different water neck

I NEVER put RTV around the bolts. The only area it leaked was from just to the left of the flat part on the bottom that is parallel to the engine, where it begins to slope up towards the left..That is the vulnerable area because the there is NO bolt in that corner.

Thanks to everyone, and OH, believe it or not, I have actually been REAL cool and calm about redoing this..It has been frustrating, but I havent really gotten too upset.....

After the $hit in Iraq, I try not to let these types of things get to me.

Thanks
RC

 

[WMDPALMER]

Way to keep things in perspective. It could be alot worse. Good luck with the Waterpump!

Will

 

[94GTLaserRC]

STILL GOING!

Drove the car to work, Then to a restaurant 10 minutes away, then 10 minutes home.

Car drove fine, TStat opened and shut normally, and when I got home, not only was there NO water on the pump, but there was not even a droplet stain, which is DEFINITELY a good sign.

Thanks for the luck-wishing.....and so far Zach, you owe me $5!

RC

 

[1105]

go RC, its yer birfday! I'll get that $5 right t ya

 

[Zero Signal]

So why were you having so many problems before? I remember I made the mistake of not using the sealant the first time, that was a mess. The second try, I used it and it hasn't leaked at all.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

So why were you having so many problems before? I remember I made the mistake of not using the sealant the first time, that was a mess. The second try, I used it and it hasn't leaked at all.

You can read the details here:

http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=461534

But here is the summary.

1. Had a slight drip from the water neck onto the pump. (after 2 months since replacing the gasket.

2. Last Saturday, replaced the gasket refilled the fluids, it held for a day, then started a noticible drip again.

3. Replaced it again Sunday, didnt start it up till Monday evening. When I got to work Tuesday, slight dripping again.

4. Decided to ditch the chrome FMS neck b/c some guys on here says that warps... Also decided to use the black instead of the red RTV.

5. Went to put that on Tuesday night (with the RTV all over the housing...And the new cast oem water neck wouldnt fit...wouldnt clear the moved alternator bracket from the VOrtechc )

6. Wed Morning, cleaned that one up, grinded and sanded down the edges that were snug, including the top water outlet and bypass nipple.

7. Put the RTV on, and let it sit until Thursday night.

8. That led me to Friday, where so far everything has been fine.

Anyway, I know how to do this, so Im guessing it's a combination of a slightly warped Chrome FMS waterneck and the Red RTV.. The red stuff is not as strong as the black. As of now, even when I reach my hand up under the seal, I dont feel any evidence of escaped moisture.

Thanks
RC