Ready for the water pressure test
 

Since I had water in the oil, and had to pull the engine, I am doing everything I can to make sure I have checked every possible water leak.

This test is to button up the engine and pull the pan to see if there is a crack in the block or if the bottom of the peeved cylinder is seeping.

I hung the rad from the winch on the hoist so I could plumb the water pump.

I will pressurize it tomorrow and post the result.

I hope things pan out for you, no pun intended!

Many years back I was changing the oil pump on my '72 Formula 400 because the oil pressure was low,(it turned out to be the very long lines going to the remote oil filter set up), I was looking around at the inside of the engine(my first Pontiac) when I saw a water droplet seep out through the block just below the bottom of one of the bores!
A quick way to pressurise the cooling system is to fit a cut down bicycle inner tube with the Schraeder valve in place of the top/bottom radiator hose and put 20 psi to it. Any leaks should be apparent, leave it overnight to see if you still have 20psi in it in the morning.

Taff2 questions
 

How did you seal the leak at the bottom of the bore?

And how did you fix the low oil pressure due to long remote filter lines?

1. Barsleak?

2. Remove the remote filter and reinstall the factory setup. ;)

water jacket leak test result
 

After cleaning up all of the oil drips and laying down a layer of bentonite, floor dry, to spot any water. And filing the rad and wiping up any water spills, I pressurized the rad to 20psi.

Fixed a couple of hose clamp leaks, but that was it. No seepage or leaks I could find.

The strange thing is that the pressure would drop rapidly to about 15psi after about 10 minutes, then slowly stabilize at 12psi. Can't explain it.

I repeated this test several times, but could find no leaks of any kind. I will recheck it tomorrow night to see if drops below 12psi. If it is stable, back into the car it goes.

How many # rad cap?

Timing covers are famous for getting pin holes that leak slowly.

If you dropped 5 pounds of pressure you still have a leak somewhere. ( likely high up on the motor so it's only leaking air now ). and belive me this WILL show up when the pump is running and the system is under pressure!

That one has gotten me a couple times!

You can add food dye while it's out of the car and pressurized, might be easier to spot. By adding water, it will save your arm from pumping all that air into the engine.

The dye also sticks to cracks, so when you're searching with a flashlight it will show better. If you let it dry, you can still see it on disassembly too.

.

"This test is to button up the engine and pull the pan to see if there is a crack in the block or if the bottom of the peeved cylinder is seeping."



Peeved=Sleeved?? :confused:

Darn spell check!
 

Yes, sleeved. The #8 cylinder had a crack and I had it sleeved.

The cap is a 15 pound unit. I pumped the system up to 20psi

If you had the block at to a competent shop, they likely magged and PT'ed the block..... and installed the sleeve correctly.
Install with confidence!
Although you seem very skeptical?:confused:

Gun shy I guess
 

This engine has had a history of gotcha's. Some my fault, some unforeseen. It apparently had a hard life before I got it.

But I am committed to getting it into sound, solid shape. Gotta keep the old iron running! Electric cars just piss me off. >:-(

If the timing cover has leaks I can address that with the engine in the car.

Yep, MisterPontiac was spot on! Now I would use Water Glass to seal any pinhole leaks, it's a solution you pour into the cooling system,run 'til hot,let it cool down and then drain the system. The chemical in the solution melts at around 200 degrees and then hardens when cool to a glass like layer, it then takes 1200 degrees before it will remelt. It is used a lot in large casting operations. I'd never heard of it 'til some board members posted the info.

Bars leak makes a product for sealing head gaskets what works like a champ, its part number 1111.
The stuff is like 40 bucks a can but it will get get you 100% right and keep you that way.

Ps, I would think using only half the bottle would be the way to go!

Found the leak
 

It was the Harbor Freight water pressure tool. I borrowed a buddies' Snap-on unit and the pressure is rock steady.

Cheap tools, cheap results.

I would have borrowed it to begin with, but he was out of town for a couple of months.

Buttoning it up tomorrow and hopefully getting it back into the car.

You sound like your good to go then, enjoy that ride now!