59 water pump gasket leaks

[Ronnie Rains]

Help
I have a 59 that I put a few extra horses in and have started having gasket failure behind the front mtr mount/ water pump area. The paper fails after a couple of weeks of driving. Any ideas or materials I might try. Thanks Ronnie

[Roy Braatz]

Re: 59 water pump gasket leaks

Those horses must be colossal,usely the front engine support should hold them back.Check and see if it's rusted or pitted and if not try thread lock glue on the four bolts useing star washers to also help keep the bolts tight.

[John Spencer]

Re: 59 water pump gasket leaks

Are you putting you gaskets on dry or glueing them. I find it best to glue both sides of the gaskets and apply a sealant to the bolt threads.

[Tom Parsons]

Re: 59 water pump gasket leaks

This is an EXTREMELY common problem with 56-62 Vettes!!! Especially, if a bigger/stronger engine has been installed.
THE NUMBER ONE BEST THING TO MINIMIZE THIS PROBLEM (it will NEVER be cured) IS TO FREQUENTLY TIGHTEN THE 4 BOLTS UNTIL EVERYTHING HAS SEATED (may take several tightenings).
In addition, here is what I have done to GREATLY minimize the problem. I purchased a length of STAINLESS 3/8 allthread and made 4 studs (the stainless doesn't rust and sieze). Glue the gaskets on BOTH sides (as previously mentioned) and install with 4 stainless nuts and lock washers. Periodically, I use a 6-point socket to tighten the nuts. ALMOST every time I check them, they (the nuts) need to be tightened just a little. I don't drive my 56 a whole lot, but I do get it out frequently and the above method usually allows me to get by without replacing gaskets for quite some time (3-4yrs, depending on how much and how hard I drive it).

[John H.]

Re: 59 water pump gasket leaks

Ronnie -

The bolts definitely need thread sealer, as they go into the water jackets, and make sure the block, both sides of the bracket, and the mating surfaces on the fuel pump are flat and free of pitting.

The shifting issue you describe is not unusual with modified engines; about the only cure I've seen that works is to drill the bracket and the block for 3/8" dowel pins so the two can't move relative to each other.

[Clem Z.]

Re: 59 water pump gasket leaks

the loc tited studs in the block with fiber lock nuts on the pump side will work and make sure there is no paint on any of the surfaces and use the thinnest gaskets you can find to prevent farther compressing of gaskets. the dowel pins are the best solution as we used hollow dowels around the studs after counter boring the block,pump and mount plate. you can try bushing the bolt holes in the mount for a good fit around the bolts.

[Mike M.]

Re: 59 water pump gasket leaks

antifreeze seapage at the h20 pump, motor mount, block junctions is a common encounter. The small block chevy in the 57 fi that i prepaired to campaign against dennis clark's 57 vet back inthe early 90's looks like a 548 cn small block but displaces 364 ci and dyno'd @ about 425 hp with the little rochester
4520 fi unit. Every time it went thru the gears in a 1/4 mile the leakage/ seapage recurred.I ended up fixing it by using lock-tite on the fastener threads and RIGHT STUFF sealant on the four gaskets. Good luck with your healthier than stock small block

[Dennis C.]

Re: 59 water pump gasket leaks

Suggest following Tom Parons's advice, although I would not use the stainless steel - it will not be as strong. Go with steel studs, lock tight, 35# torque and I would be amazed if you have any more problems.

[Clem Z.]

PS

if you use studs buy heat treated studs not just all thread because the all thread studs will stretch and stretch and keep coming loose.

[Tom Parsons]

Re: 59 water pump gasket leaks

I've had these stainless all thread studs (same ones) in for close to 20yrs, first with a 350 and now with a 406-------------------------so far, no problems. From past experience, I've never seen stainless bolts/fasteners stretch (at least not noticeably), when they fail, they just break.