coolant leak behind timing cover

[chucky07]

Need advice before I start pulling apart engine. AS I started to ad coolant i noticed a leak from the front cover...Not behind the timing cover but the cover behind the timing cover that bolts to engine.

I had this engine rebuilt at a machine shop..and I had my doubts they had ever rebuilt a flathead and now my suspicions are coming to life.

Anyhow this leak appears mainly to be from the lower right corner (see pictures).

Can anyone tell me exactly what I need to do, or look for. Do i need to pull crank pulley, timing cover? Is it possible he did not use sealer on the gasket or are there holes behind that cover that could be leaking?

I'm in the dark as this is my first flathead..and I'm very much dreading tearing it apart , this is why i paid a machine shop to build it for me.

Anyhow any and all information would be greatly appreciated before I tear into it .

Thank YOu in advance

[Don Coatney]

Did the machine shop not offer a warranty?

[chucky07]

i'll call them monday....I hope they warranty my labor as i've had to take everything apart....

anyone have a clear diagram of the front of a 218 ? i'd like to see whats involved before i tear everything apart...My manual has a pic but its so dark cant make nothing of it......

I kinda doubt i'll pull the engine and let the machine shop fix it....Maybe i should do it myself and this way I know it will be right.

any help would be appreciated

[Dodgeb4ya]

Before tearing it apart make sure that the leak is not from the water pump or pump to block gasket. You need to use a small mirror to carefully look at the underside of the pump. Water pump leakage shows up same as your leakage area.

[chucky07]

well the leak is definatley coming from between the plate on the front of engine and the engine block in the right hand bottom corner.

Is it possible that they just did not use sealer on the gasket or torque the bolts enough?

Do I need to remove the crank nut and Pulley to remove the timing cover and get to the plate behind that?

thx

[grey beard]

Here's what it looks like inside - and what your machine shop may have missed when they replaced block core plugs . . .

[chucky07]

thanks for the pic....

I hope i fixed it..here's what i did...

I removed each bolt in the front cover and put sealant on them..The dumb machine shop forgot i guess...only 1 bolt seemd to have coolant on it..and I'm assuming this is what stopped the leak...

I'm gona try to fire her up today..and see how she runs..

thanks for the help

[Merle Coggins]

That was going to be my recommendation. Some of those front cover bolts go into the water jacket. If you don't seal the threads you'll get leaks. I would think if the core plug, shown in Dave's picture, was the culprit the coolant would leak internally into the oil, not externally.

Merle

[bkahler]

thanks for the pic....

I hope i fixed it..here's what i did...

I removed each bolt in the front cover and put sealant on them..The dumb machine shop forgot i guess...only 1 bolt seemd to have coolant on it..and I'm assuming this is what stopped the leak...

I'm gona try to fire her up today..and see how she runs..

thanks for the help

What sealant did you use?

[brian hood]

I had an S-10 once that had a leak from the head gasket. It did not over heat but it leaked water from the side of the block near the cover.

Brian

[chucky07]

What sealant did you use?

I used Permatex thread sealer...got it at Autozone parts store..red tube..

[bkahler]

I used Permatex thread sealer...got it at Autozone parts store..red tube..

I'll pick some up tonight.

I had someone else build my engine but I believe I was the one that installed the timing cover and I don't remember using any sealant.

Better safe than sorry.

Thanks!

Brad