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  •  » FYI Ford, Classic Mustang Tech Discussion
  •  » 302 With Timing Cover Coolent Pooling

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    12/08/2022 8:14 PM  #1

    M1Mustang69
    I FYI 24-7

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    Registered: 5/17/2013
    Posts: 477

    302 With Timing Cover Coolent Pooling

    Hi All, its been a minute.....Im in Canada and the old girl is in the stable for the winter, but when I went to just take a look at it, tinker a little I noticed on each side of the Distributor, those 2 cupping areas along the block and timing cover that each side was FULL of coolent!

    It was freshly rebuilt 5-6yrs ago and runs like a dream.  I noticed this later in the season after I changed the ALT to a Higher Output, but it was half this amount if not less.....I assumed perhaps I didnt tighten the bolts enough, so they cranked down another quarter turn....

    now it hasnt started in over a month, not even cranked over but those 2 locations are FULL of coolent, how is it doesnt leak at all while driving it, and it does now.....Ive never had to top up coolent

    ty,
    Jeff
     

     

    12/08/2022 10:10 PM  #2

    6sally6
    Hyper FYIFORD ADDICT

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    From: Surfside Beach,SC
    Registered: 4/02/2013
    Posts: 6,458

    Re: 302 With Timing Cover Coolent Pooling

    Fuuugeddaboudit !!!    OR......
    Pull the water pump (and front cover)
    Clean everything real good with Brakleen (I love this stuff!)
    and carefully take the gaskets you removed and fold them in HALF...
    then fold them gently into quarters.
    Take both quartered gaskets and roll them tightly into a ball and see just how far you can throw them !!
    Instead of gaskets use blue RTV(caulk/gasket maker/whateveeerrr) and put a thick continuous bead all around the mating surfaces.
    Both them all down and wait 24 hours before putting in antifreeze and cranking.
    Mine DON'T leak.....yours shouldn't either !!
    6sally6

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

    12/08/2022 10:29 PM  #3

    M1Mustang69
    I FYI 24-7

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    Registered: 5/17/2013
    Posts: 477

    Re: 302 With Timing Cover Coolent Pooling

    I didn't think it should friggin leak.....oddly enough the 69 I used to own with a 351W did the same thing pre-rebuild and after. 

    When I do the work Sally I always use an expanding high heat sealer on both surfaces of the gasket, can't figure out why builders don't!

       •Thread Starter
     

    12/08/2022 10:40 PM  #4

    6sally6
    Hyper FYIFORD ADDICT

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    From: Surfside Beach,SC
    Registered: 4/02/2013
    Posts: 6,458

    Re: 302 With Timing Cover Coolent Pooling

    My theory....... going ALL RTV is in effect like gluing the two pieces together. (Think Poli-dent!)
    Sure it 'may' be a slight pain to remove the stuff the next time ya pull the pump butt.....when's that gonna be ???
    2----6---10 years from now ??!  Will ya even have the car then??   Will ANYBODY be allowed to have an IC engine then??
    Get my point ??
    RTV'em up and move on.......
    6sally6

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

    12/08/2022 10:58 PM  #5

    RPM, aka Bearing Bob
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Bakersfield, Ca
    Registered: 9/17/2013
    Posts: 3,241

    Re: 302 With Timing Cover Coolent Pooling

    My timing cover leaked like that. Turned out the water ports had corrosion which kept it from sealing. New timing cover fixed it.

    Bob. 69 Mach 1, 393W, SMOD Toploader, Armstrong  steering, factory AC.
     

    12/09/2022 6:17 AM  #6

    M1Mustang69
    I FYI 24-7

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    Registered: 5/17/2013
    Posts: 477

    Re: 302 With Timing Cover Coolent Pooling

    Thanks Sally and Bob....

    I can't see the Cover being bad, the entire motor was completely redone and everything new. But, obv not impossible.

       •Thread Starter
     

    12/09/2022 8:08 AM  #7

    MS
    Forum Originator

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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
    Posts: 11,725

    Re: 302 With Timing Cover Coolent Pooling

    There are other possibilities of why it leaks there. One is if the threaded holes in the timing cover are open where water can go through them and come out the open end of the threaded hole which may or may not even have a bolt in it.
    See my recent thread about CVF Wraptor serpentine system.  The fix is described there.

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

    12/09/2022 8:14 AM  #8

    MS
    Forum Originator

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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
    Posts: 11,725

    Re: 302 With Timing Cover Coolent Pooling

    MS wrote:

    There are other possibilities of why it leaks there. One is if the threaded holes in the timing cover are open where water can go through them and come out the open end of the threaded hole which may or may not even have a bolt in it.
    See my recent thread about CVF Wraptor serpentine system.  The fix is described there.

     





    On some applications, there is no bolt used

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

    12/13/2022 8:07 AM  #9

    M1Mustang69
    I FYI 24-7

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    Registered: 5/17/2013
    Posts: 477

    Re: 302 With Timing Cover Coolent Pooling

    Ty MS, this is a good thing to look for, I will check it out!.........and thanks to everyone else, I really would hate to rip apart all this stuff on a recently built engine with low miles for something like this......its nonsense!

       •Thread Starter
     

    12/13/2022 4:23 PM  #10

    josh-kebob
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Madison, AL
    Registered: 4/06/2013
    Posts: 2,902

    Re: 302 With Timing Cover Coolent Pooling

    what thermostat housing are you using?

    I had a new, aftermarket, non-chrome housing on mine and it leaked enough to "mark its territory" as you described.  I removed it and a steel straight edge confirmed it was slightlly warped.  Some dude from Colorado sent me a ford housing and its been leak free ever since.

    just something else to consider.....

     

     

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