LS1TECH - Camaro and Firebird Forum Discussion

LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Help with a coolant leak

   
Old Nov 2, 2009 | 04:17 PM
Share
  #1  
Greenfire's Avatar
Greenfire
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 713
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas
Default Help with a coolant leak
Okay, so the car got a new water pump housing, modified for the electric water pump to fit, sealed it, new gaskets, cleaned the block. We put thread sealer on each pump bolt, new bolts by the way, let the car set up 48 hrs. All the pump bolts were torqued to spec 30 ft pds according to haynes manuel. The leak before was coming from the passenger top bolt, then it started leaking from the driver top bolt, so after this install the same is happening again on the drivers side. We did not RTV which will be done this time. I'm not sure what else can be done at this point.
Reply
0
Old Nov 3, 2009 | 09:04 AM
Share
  #2  
RamAir95TA's Avatar
RamAir95TA
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,467
Likes: 8
From: South Jersey
Default
Originally Posted by Greenfire
Okay, so the car got a new water pump housing, modified for the electric water pump to fit, sealed it, new gaskets, cleaned the block. We put thread sealer on each pump bolt, new bolts by the way, let the car set up 48 hrs. All the pump bolts were torqued to spec 30 ft pds according to haynes manuel. The leak before was coming from the passenger top bolt, then it started leaking from the driver top bolt, so after this install the same is happening again on the drivers side. We did not RTV which will be done this time. I'm not sure what else can be done at this point.
I have had plenty of luck installing the waterpump gaskets dry, so I'm not sure why you aren't (but you can use RTV). Only thing I can think of is there's a crack in your pump housing. This is possible depending on how you handled the pump once it was off.
Reply
0
Old Nov 3, 2009 | 12:55 PM
Share
  #3  
Greenfire's Avatar
Greenfire
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 713
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas
Default
We bought a new water pump housing...since we thought the old one had a crack somewhere. Gaskets are installed when everything is dry, and the RTV is something that we figured may help seal behind the pump. The coolant is coming through the drivers side water pump top bolt. I don't get it and neither do some of my friend who have a lot of experience with their own LT1's. Car has never leaked like this before the 383 build, and I've never had coolant issues like this before.
Reply
0
Old Nov 3, 2009 | 01:14 PM
Share
  #4  
RamAir95TA's Avatar
RamAir95TA
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,467
Likes: 8
From: South Jersey
Default
Could it be that the freeze plug on the back of the water pump (blocked from the EWP install) is leaking?
Reply
0
Old Nov 3, 2009 | 01:44 PM
Share
  #5  
camaroz28383's Avatar
camaroz28383
On The Tree
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Default
if its coming through the bolt hole you might have some jacked up threads in there you could rtv the bolts which you should do any way since If I remember correctly they go into the water jacket
Reply
0
Old Nov 3, 2009 | 08:16 PM
Share
  #6  
Greenfire's Avatar
Greenfire
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 713
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas
Default
Originally Posted by RamAir95TA
Could it be that the freeze plug on the back of the water pump (blocked from the EWP install) is leaking?
Nope it is a new water pump with a new freeze plug.
Reply
0
Old Nov 3, 2009 | 08:20 PM
Share
  #7  
Greenfire's Avatar
Greenfire
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 713
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas
Default
Originally Posted by camaroz28383
if its coming through the bolt hole you might have some jacked up threads in there you could rtv the bolts which you should do any way since If I remember correctly they go into the water jacket
We noticed when we pulled the bolts out and the thread sealant that we put on the threads was not on the threads when we pulled them out. Good idea on RTV on the bolts, and yes you are right they do go into the water jacket.

THANKS ALL! Anyone else has anymore ideas please post up. Thank you!
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old Nov 3, 2009 | 08:38 PM
Share
  #8  
Raven97's Avatar
Raven97
Launching!
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
From: SW FLORIDA
Default
Yeah I learned the lesson with RTV on the bolt threads myself a few weeks ago. do that and you should be good to go.
Reply
0
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-3

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-7

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

 Brett Foote
story-9

10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 3, 2009 | 09:25 PM
Share
  #9  
RamAir95TA's Avatar
RamAir95TA
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,467
Likes: 8
From: South Jersey
Default
Use thread sealant, not RTV gasket maker, for sealing threads that protrude into water passages.
Reply
0
Old Nov 3, 2009 | 09:31 PM
Share
  #10  
porksoda's Avatar
porksoda
TECH Addict
iTrader: (39)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,458
Likes: 2
From: Clovis, NM
Default
Yea use thread sealant. And if I remember right only one bolt actually makes it into the water jacket. I believe it is the bottom right that makes it into the jacket.
Reply
0
Old Nov 4, 2009 | 01:53 PM
Share
  #11  
Greenfire's Avatar
Greenfire
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 713
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas
Default
We are using thread sealant, just I believe we didn't put enough on the threads after pulling the bolts out lastnight.
Reply
0
Tags
Back to Subforum
LT1-LT4 Modifications
View Next Unread
how to make my LS7 lifter a solid lifter for measuring pushrod length


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Advanced Search

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:42 PM.

story-0
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-3
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-4
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-5
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE
story-8
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

The world was a better place when it was still around.

By Brett Foote | 2026-01-23 09:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

Slideshow: The 7.0-liter LS7 was designed for absolute cutting-edge performance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-07 18:36:00


VIEW MORE