Technical New Member 46 Ford Coupe - Coolant dripping from bellhousing

Hello,
I am writing regarding my 46 ford coupe with 53k original miles. I purchased this car from a family member who owned for 10 years prior. It’s a fantastic car in great condition. I’ve been driving it a lot since I obtained it. I keep a pan under the car to catch any oil drip from the bell housing wick. Recently, I noticed some coolant in that pan. I have been mildly panicked ever since. There are no signs of coolant on the oil dipstick and no visible leaks at the heads. Anyone have experience with this or know what the source could be? I had the car at a mechanic friends place and he couldn’t find the sourc either. Are there freeze plugs or any other areas within the bellhousing that could leak. The car is not running hot. Any thoughts or directions on what to check are appreciated.

 

What engine is in the car ?

 

Oil from the bell housing indicates a worn/defective rear main seal not hard to fix. Even a worn front seal can cause oil to travel along the oil pan and land in the bell housing If it turns out to be the oil pump drive gear gasket ( much less likely ), it would require the engine to be pulled for a fix. Check the pan bolts for looseness and snug them up a bit. Do not overtighten them. If the gasket starts to squeeze out, stop. Coolant leak indicates a couple of things. Either a bad head gasket, a cracked head , or warped head. Before I did anything, I would re-torque the head nuts in the proper sequence (very important) to the proper torque ( 55 lbs/feet). That might cure it and save a lot of work. These V-8 engines did not have freeze plugs. Gaskets shrink and seals wear out over time. Do yourself a favor and get a manual from one of the parts vendors, such as MacsAutoparts.com and others. They will give you all the torque values, etc. A good investment. Good luck.

 

If the car has a heater the coolant might be leaking at the hose connections, then dripping at the bell housing.

 

Start with a thorough cleaning of the area, then a leak will be easier to find. Soapy stuff to dissolve the oil and crud, then a higher pressure rinse. Might make stuff get wet that doesn't like getting wet (distributor, generator, and voltage regulator), so it won't start til it dries out again. Make sure you park in a spot you can leave it for a while.

 

This is very possible. The hose connection at the RH head can leak and travel back along the block/head joint and run down the rear. Look closely.