So, I'm pretty sure that I've been leaking radiator fluid from my timer cover gasket. This is a 302. Just recently it started leaking around half a gallon every few days, so it's pretty much time to take care of it. My Maverick has become my daily driver, and I was hoping that I didn't have to do this before I got another car. I was wondering how difficult this job might be for someone who is something of novice. I haven't taken on big jobs on my own, but I've assisted in swapping heads and an engine swap (all ford 302). The jobs I've done on my own are changing the radiator and the tie rod ends. From reading around it seems the biggest problem could be some of the bolts being seized. That sounds like it can turn into a real fiasco.
You are correct about bolts breaking. Watch where each bolt comes from as there are several and some of the lengths are close to the same, clean them up with a wire wheel if you have one, no better way to learn than doing it. There is a hole on the bottom of the water pump shaft and when water pump is going bad water will leak out the hole and appear that it is coming from someplace else so make sure that is not your problem
I'm seeing the sort of valley areas on the top of the timing cover fill with coolant, and I've made sure it isn't coming from the thermostat housing. So that's what I'm going off of. I'll check the water pump to see if it's also a problem. Would going at the bolts with PB blaster or similar be adequate?
Probably won't make a big difference, but can't hurt... Some of the bolts are five or six inches long, usually they seize in area that passes through housing, not the threads... Housing is aluminum it's a combination of rusted bolt and corrosion inside bolt hole...
All the hoses were replaced and I tried to tighten down the clamps really good. I guess I'll have to hope for the best with the bolts.
You dont happen to have a chrome thermostat housing do you, they are very prone to leaking unless the chrome mating surface is sanded down. The amount of fluid you are leaking you should be able to see where it is coming from after you dry the area out. Sometimes when the hoses are old it pays to cut the ends of them off and get to virgin area to clamp them on. Wishing you well, not fun if a bolt breaks but not the end of the world either just a pia to drill out sometimes
No chrome thermostat housing. I had one bolted on when the new engine was dropped in. As soon as it warmed up, it warped and shot out a geyser of coolant, so I went with a regular one.
I just had water collecting in the valley of the timing cover. Intake bolts were not tight. Lot easier than a timing cover gasket. Might want to check that.
From what you describe, I don't think it is the timing cover. I bet it is one of the other issues already mentioned.
So, I tried tightening the manifold, and it seems fine. I double checked all the hoses and tightened down the hose clamps. I decided the best course of action would be to add some UV dye to the coolant and run it for a few days. What I found was the really big leak is coming from the bottom of the water pump. There's too much stuff surrounding it to really pin point it completely. I do see a small leak coming from beneath the driver side timing cover coolant port. There's bit on top as well. It took a couple of days for it to show up, so it's not as bad as I thought. I may as well fix it while everything is apart. Every round trip to work I'm now loosing half as gallon of coolant, so I should get on top of this. I imagine it's ready to fail at any moment.
Sounds like the water pump is going bad with it leaking from weep hole at bottom of pump shaft so it looks like you will need one of those and a gasket for the water pump and since you will be that far in you will probably have to replace the timing chain cover gaskets and when you get it down that far you will probably find out the timing chain has some slop to it. Not saying all this is bad but trying to prepare you for possibilities. If you have to tear it down that far you will have to pull the fuel pump so you will need a gasket for that, you will also have to have a gasket for the front of the oil pan because timing chain cover has 2 bolts that come up through the oil pan. Harmonic balancer will have to come off as well so you will most likely need a puller for that
Yeah, I have all the parts on order. I decided to go for a Stewart Stage 1 water pump and Cometic gaskets. I hope they arrive soon. I've been waiting a while for some of these.
