1981 350
I've had it about 4 months. Just recently it has developed a serious coolant leak. It doesn't leak when it is first started. After a few minutes it starts dripping, then in a minute or so more it really starts leaking. I tightned all the hose clamps I could find. Figured there was a clamp on the top hoseto the motor and a clamp o the bottom hose to th motor.

Still leaked. Talked to some friends last night at out rook game and decided it was a pressure build up due to a stuck thremostat. Nope. Just changed the thermostat, very same problem.

The leak seams to be just above where the bottom hose clamps to the motor.
When the car is up on some ramps and the front is hhigher than the rear the coolant runs to the back and runs down between what seems to be the transmission housing and a starter. It also runs into the (what I think is the) transmission housing and runs out two holes in the bottom of that housing.

Any ideas where it iscoming from and why it just started. The car has been in in our basement garage, about 50 degrees and up. It has had coolant in it.
I don't know why and where this is coming from. I have a bad felling it might be bad news.

Any ideas?


P.S. Thanks to those that commented on my gauge cluster removal question. I was able to get a washer off of the radio *** arm with a little oil and a couple of nails as twisters. The washer screwed on and had two notches in the center. Then I could safely lift the gauge cluster out, take off the bolts and remove the lens. I cleaned the cluster and painted i a satin black to match the window pillars and other overhead plstic parts. :seeya

 

Check the water pump. It may have worn its seal, look at the little hole on the bottom side of the pump near the shaft for coolant leak.

Good Luck

 

As mentioned the water pump seal is likly seaping a/f from the little hole that you can't see and running down to the clamp making you think it's the hose leaking. As you can see on this old pump

 

Coolant flows or follows hoses, frame members etc., so a leak is sometimes a real b#$% to find. Put the car on level ground and hose off the engine area from the valve covers down. Let it dry. Start the car and start watching as it heats up and watch on the driveway where the drips seem to fall from. After hot stop the engine and feel the bottom of the water pump, hoses etc if you have not seen the source. Also, don't forget about the "frost plugs" they rust and can get a small hole. If all else fails take it to a good radiator shop and they will hose it down and put a floresant dye in the radiator and then with a black light see the source. Good luck

 

Thanks guys. I haven't found it yet but I'll know more what to look for when I try it again.