'62 327-340 waterpump bolt hole question

[Rob Edwards]

About a year ago I managed to blow one of the waterpump gaskets on the '62. I replaced all four gaskets and used the bolts that were on the car. Fast forward to last month, and once again, there's coolant dripping off of the driver's side pump mounting flange. The pump on the car was a $33 Napa special, and I found a rebuilt '609 pump. In the process of doing the R/R, I found that the upper bolt hole on the driver's side of the block was only about an inch or so deep. I'd ordered a C1 waterpump bolt kit from CC (which BTW does NOT come with the generator mounting stud), which consists of 3 short and 1 long bolts. The bolt that was on the car in the upper right mounting hole was about 1/2" shorter than the length of the three 'short' bolts from CC. I re-used the old bolt, but had to use three washers under the head so that I could actually get it to snug down on the WP flange. It did torque to 30 ft-lbs ok.

SO: Word has it that at least some of the WP mounting bolt holes communicate with the cooling jacket in the block. Is it possible that Bubba broke off an old bolt in the upper right hole in the block? Getting it out would be way beyond my skills, and I'm guilty of bubba-ing my latest repairs with the washers (I'm afraid of totally stripping the threads out of the hole!) Is this worth a trip to the local pro to evaluate so I don't keep blowing gaskets?

[Larry P.]

Re: '62 327-340 waterpump bolt hole question

Usually when a bolt breaks it is well above the point where you would have a full inch left. I had a terrible time with my water pump sealing until I used all of the suggestions from this board.
Use studs to align the motor mount, gaskests and pump. I used exhaust manifold studs. Three of the bolts terminate into water jackets, so use Permatex thread sealer on your bolts. Tighten everything down before you put the weight of the engine back on to it. Make sure the motor mount doesn't have pin hole corrosion. I fixed mine with JB weld. Don't stress the pan when you jack the motor.
Good luck!
LP