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Old 05-09-2022, 05:10 PM
mr67gp mr67gp is offline
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Default 1957 Chieftain - coolant leak from cylinder head

I have been trying to diagnose a coolant leak at the back of my engine for a while. I actually pulled the intake manifold to check the freeze plugs and block offs. There was a leak from the gasket, but the freeze plugs that face the valley were fine. Today I got the car running and warmed up to find coolant dripping down the left side of the bell housing from above the starter.

Turns out it is the large freeze plug that blocks the hole for the water elbow - that faces the firewall. I got my cheap digital scope out and found the tell tale rusty trail at the bottom of the steel plug.

So, do I pull the head(s) and change that plug out, or do I make a cover plate and use a water elbow gasket to block it off?

Transmission is not shifting right either, so that will likely have to come out now too.

Would love to put a manual transmission in it . . .

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Jim K in PA
1967 GP HT 428
1967 GP convert 428
1957 Chieftain 4D HT
  #2  
Old 05-10-2022, 01:09 AM
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Jack Gifford Jack Gifford is offline
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I like your work-around with a plate! Nothing wrong with that. I'd use at least 1/4" plate.

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Old 05-10-2022, 10:39 AM
mr67gp mr67gp is offline
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Thanks for that, Jack. Seems like a reasonable solution since there is no other reason to pull the manifold (again) and the head. I have some nice 6061 I can pattern from a gasket and bolt that on. I might make 2 and cover the passenger side plug pro-actively.

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Old 07-07-2022, 04:45 PM
mr67gp mr67gp is offline
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Can anyone confirm that the Felpro FPG 35062 is correct for the outlet elbows on the heads?

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/FPG35062

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1967 GP HT 428
1967 GP convert 428
1957 Chieftain 4D HT
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Old 07-07-2022, 05:06 PM
ponchonlefty ponchonlefty is offline
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yeah, that is a good work around. you know if you pull the head the might as well syndrome starts. next thing you know its completely rebuilt. i have a 57 myself. so i'm rooting for ya. if i was going for a manual i would see if there is a adapter to mount a newer trans. just a thought.

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Old 07-07-2022, 06:58 PM
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I had a leak like that on my street-strip car. While the coolent
was low I used JB-Weld worked great never leaked again.

GT

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Old 07-07-2022, 07:03 PM
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Bill Hanlon Bill Hanlon is offline
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I made my own with sheet gasket material, a small ball peen hammer and an X-Acto knife using the elbow on the front of the head as a pattern.

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Old 07-08-2022, 12:55 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ponchonlefty View Post
... if i was going for a manual i would see if there is a adapter to mount a newer trans. ..
No adaptor needed, just a '58-'60 bellhousing. The rear engine mounting points are a little different from those of a '57 housing, but that's not a big deal.

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Old 07-08-2022, 09:12 AM
mr67gp mr67gp is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Hanlon View Post
I made my own with sheet gasket material, a small ball peen hammer and an X-Acto knife using the elbow on the front of the head as a pattern.
Thanks Bill - BTDT many times, but I am not replacing the elbow gasket. I am going to use the gasket as a pattern to make a block off plate as described above. It will cover the leaking expansion plug in the head.

My local NAPA has them listed in stock, so I'll just got and grab a couple for $4.

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Old 07-08-2022, 10:17 AM
ponchonlefty ponchonlefty is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Gifford View Post
No adaptor needed, just a '58-'60 bellhousing. The rear engine mounting points are a little different from those of a '57 housing, but that's not a big deal.
thank you for the info. im still learning. so you can use say a richmond 5 or 6 speed with that bell housing?

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Old 07-08-2022, 02:20 PM
mr67gp mr67gp is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mr67gp View Post
Can anyone confirm that the Felpro FPG 35062 is correct for the outlet elbows on the heads?

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/FPG35062
In case anyone else unearths this thread later, this is not the correct part number for the water outlet elbows on the head. This is the T-stat gasket.

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1967 GP HT 428
1967 GP convert 428
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Old 07-09-2022, 12:15 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ponchonlefty View Post
... so you can use say a richmond 5 or 6 speed with that bell housing?...
I have no idea- never laid hands on a 5 or 6 speed. The '58-60 bellhousing fits run-of-the-mill GM 3- & 4-speeds.

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... or has built a record breaking DOHC hemi four cylinder Pontiac?
... or has driven a couple laps of Nuerburgring with Tri-Power Pontiac power?(back in 1967)
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Old 07-09-2022, 01:46 AM
ponchonlefty ponchonlefty is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Gifford View Post
I have no idea- never laid hands on a 5 or 6 speed. The '58-60 bellhousing fits run-of-the-mill GM 3- & 4-speeds.
it was just a passing thought. so i will give info that might be helpful. i put a factory pontiac bellhousing on a richmond 6 speed. the bell housing is the aluminum newer version like would go in a 69-81 pontiac. so it might fit the older bellhousing. it would be cool a 347 with a over drive.

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Old 09-28-2022, 10:09 AM
mr67gp mr67gp is offline
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Follow up -I fabricated the block off plate and installed it on the back of the left CH. It stopped that leak, but revealed that there are more leaks. It appears now that coolant is leaking from the back of the block, behind the bell housing. I suspect other expansion plugs are rusted through.

So, the trans still needs to be rebuilt (only have 1st and 3rd ) and the engine may need to come out to replace the expansion plugs.

Might be time to let someone else play with this car . . .

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1967 GP HT 428
1967 GP convert 428
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Old 09-28-2022, 09:59 PM
1965gp 1965gp is offline
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Get some of that Cork stuff the GM dealers used to sell and add it to the coolant. I’ve used that before- ironically on my 57 that had a small coolant leak in the block. It does a good job of finding the leaks. I hear the GM product is the best

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