a bubba moment ????
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 952
Likes: 0
From: Morgantown,WV USA
a bubba moment ????
Well I thought I had my 78's cooling system sealed tight. I was very careful when re-installing the new heater hoses so I would not break anything up there and have to replace it. It did ok (no leaks) after I ran it up to temperature.However, yesterday I looked under the car and saw a small puddle of coolant behind the right front wheel...my heart sank
All I could think of was the heater coreAfter climbing under the car it appeared that the leak was coming from somewhere inside the engine compartment, not the heater core
Long story short- the plastic coolant overflow tank was leaking. I removed it and found it was leaking at the seam (on the bottom) near the front where it begins to turn down. The split in the seam was maybe 1/8 of an inch (max).
This is where the bubba in me came out...I mixed some JB Water Weld up and used that to seal it. After it dried I sanded it down to feather the edges to blend it in with the plastic tank. Actually, its very difficult to see unless you really look for it- but its there.
This spring I will probably spring for a new tank, but it seems fine for now.
Lesson to learn- these tanks will leak after they age!! I promose that this is the only time I have ever used this stuff on a car....I promise
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
A long time ago, my brother and I COMPLETELY "rebuilt" the casting where the water pump mounted to the engine with JB weld and popsicle sticks.....on a 429 Ford.....worked fine for years...
Lesson - JB weld is fine for a Ford !!! LOL !!!!!
Lesson - JB weld is fine for a Ford !!! LOL !!!!!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,703
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Years ago a buddy of mine had a TR6 and fuel tank was so rusted that it would only hold enough gas for a 10 mile trip, not enough for him to go to work.
Long story short, I cut the fuel line flange off his gas tank and welded it to the bottom of a 5 gallon, metal gas can which we wired into his trunk. He drove it that way for years. I couldn't look at that car without cringing.
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