Help - Coolant leak R.H. side rear of engine

[brian buttimore]

Hi All,
I have been trying to trace a small coolant leak from my 74 TV8 MOD Stag and would like some thoughts
After a run to warm up the engine and develop some system pressure, it appears as a small regular drip forming off the lower bolt on the starter motor then running down the front of the gearbox bell housing before dripping onto the floor.
The water appears to be forming between the starter motor and bellhousing joint, but I know this doesn’t make sense.
From other posts I first checked the vee between the cylinders but this all seems dry.
I suspected the temp sensor or rear transfer housing seal to cylinder head on the rear of the R.H. head, immediately above the starter motor but all seems to be dry around these.
I would welcome anyone’s experience on similar problem before I start systematically tightening all bolts.
Cheers.

[brian0443]

Too far forward to be from the drain to the heater assembly?

[dasadrew]

there are core plugs in the rear of the engine block there. Bad news. start stocking up with k seal!

[richardthestag]

Hello Brian

I have a cooling system tester, I know mine couldn't be much further from you, unless it was on the moon of course. But my point is, that the kit is extremely useful at pressurizing a cold cooling system to identify the source of leaks.

obvious source would be transfer housing or temp sender. I would probably start removing cleaning and reassembly. It gets hot here so any leak might evaporate off before you get chance to see it

next source might be hgf. coolant may be finding its way up the rear stud and then dribbling down.

last source might be the coreplug that sits on the back of the engine block, but I dont see how that might accumulate on the starter

lets hope it is transfer plate related

[dasadrew]

Certainly my coolant loss in that area dribbling on to the starter was the transfer housing. Nipped up the bolts, leak was reduced. Put K-seal in, leak stopped. Whilst it was leaking, the housing periphery was always damp and the colour of antifreeze. You could try some spray on talc to trace the source.

[mole42]

Your title says RH side, but you said it seems to drip on the starter.

Sounds like you mean LH side, if so, it could be the temperature sender leaking or the transfer housing loose. Like dasadrew said.

[brian buttimore]

Correction L H side

[brian buttimore]

Hi All,.

Okay so Im starting to eliminate the source of the leak, can anyone post a photo of the core plugs in the back of the TV8 engine block please. Cant see any image of this view of the block anywhere online?

[Lingen]

Brian
Page 2 of the factory Stag Parts Catalogue shows two core plugs at the back of the block. one of 1.655" diameter, and the other of 1.055" Part numbers 155796 and 153972. if that helps at all.
MIke.

[Bob Heritage]

Any leaks that originate from the V, water pump, inlet manifolds , will discharge at the rear left. Worth tracking down source of leak before you do anything, A dusting with talcum powder is a good trick