What to do? Coolant leak 69 318.

[cbarge]

Unlike the 70- newer LA engines, Frankie's water puml and timing cover is different. Basically same parts carried over from the 318 Poly.
The issue is leaking at the nipple atop the water pump.
I thought it was the bypass hose.
New hose..still leaked.
Cleaned the rust and crudd off said nipple and cranked the hose clamp real tight
Still leaked.
Will try a new nipple for 10 bux but my gut tells me the water pump is corroded at the nipple.
Can a 70- newer pimp fit a 69 timing cover?
Thoughts?

 

[Vaanth]

Unlike the 70- newer LA engines, Frankie's water puml and timing cover is different. Basically same parts carried over from the 318 Poly.
The issue is leaking at the nipple atop the water pump.
I thought it was the bypass hose.
New hose..still leaked.
Cleaned the rust and crudd off said nipple and cranked the hose clamp real tight
Still leaked.
Will try a new nipple for 10 bux but my gut tells me the water pump is corroded at the nipple.
Can a 70- newer pimp fit a 69 timing cover?
Thoughts?

View attachment 723824

The leakage could be the threads into the pump body, but as a first try, loosen the clamp and raise it up on the hose a little. The clamp should be on the smooth area between the fitting's threads, and its raised lip on the end. If clamping on the fitting threads, it may not seal. It looks like the correct hose, but confirm it is 3/4" which is the pipe nipple size on the pre-1970 pump and intake manifold. 1970 and later is one inch. If it is the nipple threads in the pump body, and there is not too much corrosion on either, some plumber's pipe thread compound should seal it.

The 1970 and later water pump will bolt to the 1969 timing cover, but the power steering pump bracket, and the alternator brackets will not bolt up and align with other parts. The pump pulley will physically fit, but the spacing is wrong, so it will not align with the accessories either. Additionally, the pump lower outlet is on the passenger side, so a radiator swap or modification and different lower hose will be required. The pump's lower hose inlet will also cover up the timing marks on the timing cover (or timing tab for 1968 and earlier timing covers). Also, the one inch cast-in nipple on the 1970 and later water pump will not fit the stock 3/4" hose, so the intake manifold fitting must be changed to one inch. I have made the one inch hose fit on a 3/4 inch fitting by making a sleeve from a 3/4 inch heater hose inside the one inch hose.

The water pump is still available and NOS pumps can be found, such as the TRW FP1296 or Perfect Circle PC-282 (non-air conditioning), if required.

 

[413]

Is it somehow difficult to buy a 1969 and older cast iron water pump for that car?

By the time you remove that pipe that is firmly rusted in place the water pump will start leaking. Also you could have replaced the water pump and been done hours ahead of time.

Rockauto has 5 choices here

1969 DODGE POLARA 5.2L 318cid V8 Water Pump | Shop Now at RockAuto

 

[CBODY67]

Does the casting have a hair-line crack in it?

Agree that the clamp should be on the smooth part of the nipple, with the end of the hose extending just past the clamp.

CBODY67

 

[Big_John]

I don't think you want to change to a '70 up pump.

First issue is the outlet is on the wrong side. Then the heater hose and bypass nipples are part of the casting and not separate screw in nipples.

If the new nipple doesn't cure the leak, the earlier pumps aren't hard to find or real expensive.

The only issue is getting that bypass hose as (IIRC) smaller diameter on the older pumps. There's a (again, IIRC) a Ford hose that can be trimmed to fit.

 

[cbarge]

Is it somehow difficult to buy a 1969 and older cast iron water pump for that car?

By the time you remove that pipe that is firmly rusted in place the water pump will start leaking. Also you could have replaced the water pump and been done hours ahead of time.

Rockauto has 5 choices here

1969 DODGE POLARA 5.2L 318cid V8 Water Pump | Shop Now at RockAuto

The replacement pumps do not have new nipples.
I can get new ones should mine be cracked/ rusted.

 

[cbarge]

I don't think you want to change to a '70 up pump.

First issue is the outlet is on the wrong side. Then the heater hose and bypass nipples are part of the casting and not separate screw in nipples.

If the new nipple doesn't cure the leak, the earlier pumps aren't hard to find or real expensive.

The only issue is getting that bypass hose as (IIRC) smaller diameter on the older pumps. There's a (again, IIRC) a Ford hose that can be trimmed to fit.

I had a spare bypass hose lying around but was for my 73 wagon.
I ordered and got the correct bypass hose locally for a paltry 18 bux.
New clamps too.
I will start pulling it apart once I get a new pump and nipples in my hands.
Then I will discover the leak location.
It leaks pretty good to the point I wont drive the car.

 

[cbarge]

Nigel has the nipples..

 

[cbarge]

Update.....
Tried moving the hose and clamp up a wee bit..still leaks.
Got new nipples but the old ones said FU not coming out.
So I ordered a new pump and nipples from National Moparts.They had them in stock.
A Carter pump and at 94 bux it was cheaper than local parts jobbers even at my cost!
Removed the belts and drained the rad.
Spun the fan and the water pump had play and making noise so it was due.

 

[cbarge]

Replacing the fossilized rad hoses.
New one too short..ugh..

 

[cbarge]

THe rad petcock self destructed so have to get a new one.
Going this far will replace the thermostat whil I am at it.

 

[Boydsdodge]

For the short upper rad hose, a friend bought one of the coolant filters and installed.

 

[cbarge]

Here we are almost 4 months later!
Been busy with life and Since 2021, I have been leisurely working on a couple side projects.
La Chrysler, 1966 Canadian Chrysler 300 seedan getting re-assembled after a 4 year body and paint.
And a 69 Chevelle SS396 convertible did the electrical and put it back together to make it drivable after a full bloen body off frame resto yet still needs paint.
Up until this March I was working 12hr continental shiftwork.
Since March back to my old normal 8 to 5 off weekends job.
Now the cars get my attention on weekends. Much better for me.

 

[cbarge]

Up here in the Great White North, us Canuckians had our Thanksgiving long weekend.
So I had time to get back to Frankie.
Took 4 months to do an hour's worth of work!!
Pulled the old water pump off.
It appears to be very old or dare I say original

 

[cbarge]

Comparo the new versus old.
Hope the stamped steel impelers are capable cooling the 'teen

 

[cbarge]

Difference between old n new..

 

[cbarge]

A refresher why I ended up replacing the pump.
The nipples were rusted badly and started to leak.
They were not coming out without damaging the pump.
69 last year for cast iron water pump passed down from the Poly engine days.

 

[cbarge]

The new pump bypass hose fitting is different.
Luckily in the box it came with an adaptor to fit the new nipple.

 

[cbarge]

We knew when we bought Frankie that his engine was replaced sometime in the 80's by a Chrysler dealer.
With the power steering pump outa the way grabbed a good pic of the rebuild tag. .60 over!
Dont care, one of the best running 318's we have had.
Ignore the wrong color which was done by previous owner.
That freeze plug looks like it was leaking but coolant was running over it from the water pump.
Hope it dont leak..

 

[cbarge]

Used Loctite's version of crazy glue to position the gasket on the water pump.
Then cleaned all the wet bolts and used thread sealant.
Ran out of steam 1:20 AM so will finish up tomorrow and wake Frankie up.
Being a nice driver, did not bother painting the pump the wrong color,LOL!
Stay tuned!