What Bolts on the timing cover go into water passages. I'm trying to start mine after a rebuild and it's leaking from a timing cover bolt next to the water pump. Are just the two bolts next to the water pump the only ones?.

Thanks

 

Sounds like a crack.

Josh

 

hmm, I pulled the bolt out and coolant came pouring out. I put some rtv around the bolt and put it back in.

 

Interesting... Hopefully it doesn't leak into the crankcase

Josh

 

Put some pipe thread sealer on the bolt and see if that stops it. Someone may have gotten a little too "happy" with the drill press when machining the block.

 

I found a bare block picture online and it looks like the hole next to the water pump holes "could" be in a jacket. The one circled was the one that was leaking.

 

sorry double post

 

Oh yes, absolutely that timing cover bolt goes into the water jacket. You can reach your finger into the water pump opening and feel it (or maybe put a nut on it?). It is the only one that goes through, at least on a 1965 352.
Now in 1968 they made a bigger bolt for the timing pointer and it goes into the block but I don't know if it gets into the water.

 

On one of our newer 390 blocks (don't have casting numbers but it is a ribbed block) you can feel a hump in casting where the threads are.

 

on both sides or just the driver side?
puttster

 

I've personally never paid attention to the older pre-65 blocks, but newer ones shouldn't go thru to the jacket.

Either way, I can see slathering those particular bolts with silicone should alleviate any issues with the water jacket.

Seems improper, however, to expect the timing cover paper thin gasket and bolt to hold back 12+ psi coolant pressure from entering into the timing cover and polluting the oil.

Maybe that's why Ford later changed the casting?

Josh

 

Everything is holding fine under pressure now.