I am a new member to FTE but have been a follower for a short time, this is my 1st post. I have a 73 F100 with a 302 & C4 auto trans. The tranny needs a rebuild so I havent driven lately and has sat for about a year since I last started her up. I decided to try to get her running again but have hit a few snags. I had to replace the fuel pump to get her started. Then with the first startup she dumped a load of water. I picked up a new water pump and got the old one out. Then I discovered a hole above the upper right water passage on the block. I have a feeling this is a bad sign. Has anyone seen this before? Does this mean my block is rotted?

 

From what I can see, it looks like your timing chain cover is corroded away. The aluminum piece between the water pump and block.

 

Nope, just your timing cover is rotted

 

I had the exact same problem and just patched it with jb weld. It is probably not the best solution but the only thing I could think of other than replacing the whole timing cover. It has lasted about a year and a half like that with no problems. There is not much pressure behind it. To do it I put a little piece of wax paper in the vent then covered the outside with the jb weld let it set and took the wax paper out. Quick Fix.

 

Thanks! I will probably pull the motor, its a project truck anyway.

 

Looks like you have a lot of degreasing to do.

 

Anyone have any idea how much time and hassle I have in replacing the timing cover? Am I going to get into popping the oil pan?
Ya dkf, the grease is everywhere, all my bolts were caked. Its probably going to take me most of my weekend cleaning the grease from the whole underside so I can yank the tranny.

 

Its always troublesome getting the bottom of the timing cover to seal to the oil pan again without loosening off the oil pan

 

The oil pan gasket could more than likely use replacing anyway.

 

Yea, there are four bolts in the bottom of the timing cover that attach to the oil pan. As stated you'll probably have to loosen a few of the oil pan bolts back from the front to get the pan to drop some to let the timing cover bolt holes line up with the ones in the block. The timing cover gasket set will come with new little pieces of cork gasket to replace the part between the timing cover and oil pan. It's just a little triangle kinda piece. I had to do mine when I replaced my water pump because one of the bolts broke off flush with the block. I had to pull the timing cover drill out the bolt and retap the hole.

On the degreasing. Purple power works great!! Buy the big jug and put it in a spray bottle.