VCCA Home Forums Thread Like Summary - Coolant leak

My 1938, 216 engine is leaking coolant on the floor. It’s not a hose or the radiator and I’m not sure where it’s coming from. Could my water pump be bad? It leaks very strange. It only leaks after the engine is run for a while and much later after the engine is off. It doesn’t leak while the engine is running. Very strange.

Best guess is the water pump.

The correct 1938 water pump uses a sealed double bearing shaft. Easy to rebuild if you can find a kit.

That depends on how flexible you are. I replaced the pump on my 38 with everything in place. There's a lot of side to side involved. Removing the hood is usually a two person job so a bit of side to side is preferable to me.

I removed the fan first. A ratcheting box end wrench makes that job a bit "easier" with the limited clearance.

The cause of pushing water out the overflow is one of the following:

Overfilled radiator

Air in the coolant expanding as it gets hotter and/or the internal coolant passage pressure is lowered.

"After boil" due to steam generation in the engine coolant passages with little to no coolant movement

Draining of coolant because the engine coolant passages are above the radiator outlet.