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  •  » The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

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    7/23/2022 8:45 AM  #1

    MS
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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
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    The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    My 331 in the 69 has a little over 1,000 miles on it now. I noticed some green leakage under the car and traced it back to a timing cover leak on the top driver side. Dried it out, started the car and let it fill up again. It seeped up from the timing cover, so I know it is not intake manifold or head gasket. I kind if wish it WAS intake manifold. That would be easier to fix.

    So, now I get to start by removing the radiator and working my way back. That fancy serpentine system bolts to four water pump bolts that go into the front of the block. I know the gaskets were all carefully installed. I have never had this leak on my own engine before, and am not enthused about this increased effort on my bash thrash.  MustangSteve’s LAW is alive and well, folks.

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     

    7/23/2022 9:09 AM  #2

    Nos681
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    From: Atlantic Mine, Michigan
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    I would check to see if any of the fasteners have loosened up first.  Then you would know which ones are the problem children.😁

    After all of these years, same dumb design.
    C hevrolet was smarter with their design.

    Last edited by Nos681 (7/23/2022 9:13 AM)

     

    7/23/2022 10:08 AM  #3

    MS
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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    Bolts are the ones holding the serpentine system. Anyone who knows me personally will attest to the fact that bolts installed by me do not “loosen up”.

    Now, it may be possible the serpentine bracketry design has inherent vibrational frequencies that destroy gaskets.  That will be determined when I get it torn apart.

    What a PITA

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
       •Thread Starter
     

    7/23/2022 12:54 PM  #4

    BobE
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    From: White Plains, NY
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    I fully understand the PITA part.  Make sure the serpentine bolts are not bottoming out in the block and not allowing adequate compression of the gasket.  I know this may be ‘out there’ but something to verify.  Also, check for a crack in the TC cover.
    Good luck.

    65 Fastback, 351W, 5-speed, 4 wheel discs, 9" rear,  R&C Front End.
     

    7/23/2022 4:01 PM  #5

    6sally6
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    BobE wrote:

    I   Make sure the  bolts are not bottoming out in the block and not allowing adequate compression of the gasket. 
    Good luck.

     
    X-2
    6sal6
    RTV is your friend (butt then you know that probably.....since you told ME about it!)

    Get busy Liv'in or get busy Die'n....Host of the 2020 Bash at the Beach/The only Bash that got cancelled  )8
     

    7/23/2022 5:42 PM  #6

    almcgee
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    From: Fairview, Texas
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    I have an oil puddle under my car too, again.

    Mustang Steve Bash in Gruene, Texas September29-30, 2023
     

    7/23/2022 7:05 PM  #7

    Nos681
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    Wanna trade engines Al?
    I won’t even charge ya extra. 😁

    I agree about PITA.

     

    7/24/2022 7:17 PM  #8

    HudginJ3
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    6sally6 wrote:

    BobE wrote:

    I   Make sure the bolts are not bottoming out in the block and not allowing adequate compression of the gasket.
    Good luck.

     
    X-26sal6
    RTV is your friend (butt then you know that probably.....since you told ME about it!)

    Some of mine are leaking too but I didn't put sealant on the bolts that have water behind them. It will last till after the bash. 


     

    70, ragtop 351W/416 stroker Edel Performer heads w pro flow 4, Comp roller 35-421-8. T5
     

    7/26/2022 12:32 PM  #9

    MS
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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    This one fills up the depression in the timing cover after running the engine for ten minutes.  That said, the 69 won’t be going to the bash this year.

    The 66 will get a new clutch and a carb rebuild and should be ready to go. This will be bash # 19.  The 66 has gone to all but three. (One was SCarolina, which did not happen due to covid.) one was due to a broken lifter and one was due to a body shop screwing up EVERYTHING after a fender bender.

    2022 makes the 30th year I have owned the 66 fastback.

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
       •Thread Starter
     

    7/27/2022 5:57 AM  #10

    Toploader
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    MS wrote:

    and one was due to a body shop screwing up EVERYTHING after a fender bender.

    Was that the one where the teenager ran into you whilst driving through a shopping mall parking lot? Back in Ovilla... Oh man, I remember that whole drama. 🔥🔥🔥
    How did you end up working things out in the end with the body shop and the car being repaired?

    Last edited by Toploader (7/27/2022 6:01 AM)

    1964-1/2 D Code Coupe - 289 V8, 4 Speed Toploader, 3.00 ratio rear, Autolite 4100 Carb, 15" tires, Pertronix ignition
     

    7/27/2022 7:16 AM  #11

    MS
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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    Toploader wrote:

    MS wrote:

    and one was due to a body shop screwing up EVERYTHING after a fender bender.

    Was that the one where the teenager ran into you whilst driving through a shopping mall parking lot? Back in Ovilla... Oh man, I remember that whole drama. 🔥🔥🔥
    How did you end up working things out in the end with the body shop and the car being repaired?

    They wound up redoing the paint and body work on the entire car four years later.

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
       •Thread Starter
     

    7/27/2022 11:36 AM  #12

    Steve69
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    MS wrote:

    This one fills up the depression in the timing cover after running the engine for ten minutes. That said, the 69 won’t be going to the bash this year.

    The 66 will get a new clutch and a carb rebuild and should be ready to go. This will be bash # 19. The 66 has gone to all but three. (One was SCarolina, which did not happen due to covid.) one was due to a broken lifter and one was due to a body shop screwing up EVERYTHING after a fender bender.

    2022 makes the 30th year I have owned the 66 fastback.

        30 years for my 69 this month too!
     

     

    7/29/2022 6:02 PM  #13

    HudginJ3
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    MS wrote:

    This one fills up the depression in the timing cover after running the engine for ten minutes. That said, the 69 won’t be going to the bash this year.

    The 66 will get a new clutch and a carb rebuild and should be ready to go. This will be bash # 19. The 66 has gone to all but three. (One was SCarolina, which did not happen due to covid.) one was due to a broken lifter and one was due to a body shop screwing up EVERYTHING after a fender bender.

    2022 makes the 30th year I have owned the 66 fastback.

    I was told to put Bars Leak pills on any car that has aluminum heads at installation. Cadillac recommended that in the shop manual.  I flushed my radiator earlier this week and put it in with the antifreeze. No water in the timing cover depressions.
     

    70, ragtop 351W/416 stroker Edel Performer heads w pro flow 4, Comp roller 35-421-8. T5
     

    7/30/2022 5:24 AM  #14

    MS
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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    Was it leaking before the bars leaks?  My experience with that stuff years ago was softened hoses and a general mess.  How is yours?

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
       •Thread Starter
     

    7/30/2022 8:18 AM  #15

    KM
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    Not sure what pulley system your using. But i installed a system on a 289 that sounds like your system. Some of the bolts that mounted the bracket on did bottom out . I just shortened those bolts and torqued them up.

    If its worth doing do it right !
     

    7/30/2022 2:51 PM  #16

    MS
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    Thanks
    I will check those bolts !!
    It is amazing that did not cross my mind since I recently diagnosed that same issue on someone else’s water pump leak.
    Hoping it works.

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
       •Thread Starter
     

    7/30/2022 8:18 PM  #17

    HudginJ3
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    MS wrote:

    Was it leaking before the bars leaks? My experience with that stuff years ago was softened hoses and a general mess. How is yours?

    Yeah it was leaking. I emptied the system to flush it out. Ive been running water in it since I put the cam in. I finished chemically flushing it and serviced it a couple of days ago. I went driving yesterday and today successful results . Tonight it is as dry as ever. The stuff I put in though was not the pills but the liquid Bars Leak with the pills already in the bottle of Bars Leak liquid. I was told they quit making the pills so this is the first time I've used this stuff. The pills never did any damage to my cooling system that I am aware of but I just assume the bottled stuff is the same. I hope I didn't make a mistake.

    70, ragtop 351W/416 stroker Edel Performer heads w pro flow 4, Comp roller 35-421-8. T5
     

    8/04/2022 3:10 PM  #18

    Steve69
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    Seems like every spring I can get  a turn on my hose clamps when I check everything out from the last season of driving it.  There tight when I tighten them up in the Spring.  

     

    8/04/2022 6:01 PM  #19

    josh-kebob
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    Steve69 wrote:

    Seems like every spring I can get  a turn on my hose clamps when I check everything out from the last season of driving it.  There tight when I tighten them up in the Spring.  

    its' all due to daylight savings.................spring forward.....fall back....

     

    8/04/2022 8:54 PM  #20

    Bullet Bob
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    Yes, DST and Coriolis Effect.  In the Southern Hemisphere they will tighten and you'll be constantly having to loosen them or they will eventually cut the hose in two. 

     

    "you get what you pay for, good work isn't cheap, and there are NO free lunches...PERIOD!"
     

    8/10/2022 3:12 PM  #21

    Steve69
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    josh-kebob wrote:

    Steve69 wrote:

    Seems like every spring I can get  a turn on my hose clamps when I check everything out from the last season of driving it.  There tight when I tighten them up in the Spring.  

    its' all due to daylight savings.................spring forward.....fall back....

       LOL!  Im sure your 100% right on that Josh! 
     

     

    8/10/2022 4:22 PM  #22

    MS
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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    Something weird
    I drove the car to a show about twenty miles away yesterday.  I cleaned the engine off before I left home.
    The leak has not recurred. Totally dry.
    It was 100 degrees outside and AC was being used.

    Yes, there is still water in the radiator.

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
       •Thread Starter
     

    8/11/2022 6:44 AM  #23

    Nos681
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    Bullet Bob wrote:

    Yes, DST and Coriolis Effect.  In the Southern Hemisphere they will tighten and you'll be constantly having to loosen them or they will eventually cut the hose in two. 

     

     Next you’ll be telling me that the 289’s rotate CCW down under.😂

     

    8/11/2022 7:02 AM  #24

    Bullet Bob
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    Nos681 wrote:

    Bullet Bob wrote:

    Yes, DST and Coriolis Effect.  In the Southern Hemisphere they will tighten and you'll be constantly having to loosen them or they will eventually cut the hose in two. 

     

     Next you’ll be telling me that the 289’s rotate CCW down under.😂

    Well...they better....lookin' at the flywheel.

    "you get what you pay for, good work isn't cheap, and there are NO free lunches...PERIOD!"
     

    8/11/2022 8:12 PM  #25

    Alan
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    Re: The dreaded TIMING COVER GREEN LAKE got me

    Did somebody spike MS's radiator with Bar's Leak?
     

    67 Coupe, 5.0 EEC IV Fuel injected. T5, 3:70 rear
     

     

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