Finally got my rebuild installed yesterday.Finished hooking everything up today.When I filled the rad(with water first) there was a drip from one of the bolts that holds the wide generator bracket to the water pump.I pulled the 2 bolts backout and  brushed on some sealant on the threads and reinstalled.Is that going to fix this drip?Going to fire it up tommorrow(I hope).By the way I have seen the question posted asking if the motor and transmission can be installed together.I put mine together on the floor including the exhaust manifolds and starter as well as the Fordo.I have the grille and lock support panel off mine.Took my buddy and I about an hour and all I ended up  taking off was one exhaust manifold.It can be done in one unit provided you have the the above items off.

  

Some of the timing cover bolts do go into the water jacket. The sealer should stop that leak.


Lawrenceville, GA

I know it's a bit late for you, but I plugged those bolt holes into the water jacket while the block was accessible, so I could pull the generator & bracket in future without loosing any coolant.

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

Hey Daniel! That was a smart idea.That may help somoeone else when they are redoing a motor.I know I would have done it when I had it apart if I knew about it then.

  

I’ll add this in regards to coolant leaks on fresh rebuilds.  The threaded holes on the ’56 and earlier heads where the intake manifold studs go into the heads to hold the intake manifold turtles (hold downs) in place are open to the water jackets within the heads.  If sealer is not used on the studs then coolant seepage past the threads can happen.  Because this coolant basically weeps out and travels down the length of the head alongside the valley cover, it very often looks like a head gasket leak and is difficult to track back to its source without a pressure tester.  The ’57 and up heads went with a blind hole at these locations so that problem isn’t prevalent on the later model heads.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Thanks Ted.Those studs were not removed on mine when the heads were done so they seem to be OK.The 2 bolts that were dripping last night seem to be OK now.

  

After I sealed the threads on those bolts leak is gone.