Hot Rods Coolant leak from convertor drain

It for sure can migrate down that block edge and into the converter shield. I had a distributor gasket that did exactly that with oil. Just a 1/16 inch line of oil.

 

4 little screws and the cover is off. Unless it was built with everything under the cover I can't believe it wasn't the 1st thing you did.

"Mirror, mirror on the wall, where did all the coolant fall?"

 

Have had it off but didn't see anything that helped spot the leak. That was before I realized that there were frost plugs at the rear of the engine. I will remove it again today but if memory serves me correctly, the flex plate fits tight enough up to the engine block that I won't be able to see up where the frost plugs are.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Inspection-W...cphy=9031589&hvtargid=pla-1416820149314&psc=1

 

Might have to try it cold and hot. I've had leaks that would only show up when the engine was cold and leaks that only showed when hot.
As for having to use a jack to R & R the trans, it beats the hell out of a 2x6 and a cinder block.

 

{As for having to use a jack to R & R the trans, it beats the hell, out of a 2x6 and a cinder block.}

Harbor Freight has an automatic trans fixture ("head" only) that sets into the hydraulic rolling floor jack.
Son got me one, fits perfectly (350 T.H. in F100 pickup!)

 

Yep, makes life easy .

 

Well, it has taken a while but I finally found the leak. I had to replace my starter and when I had it off I could see the track of the coolant down the block. I had already removed the torque convertor cover and looked up at the engine frost plugs and the back of the engine and determined that all was dry there. Big relief. Anyways I could see up the backside of the block with the starter removed and the back corner of the cylinder head was wet. I tried retorquing the head but all bolts were at the correct torque. Then I tried the intake manifold bolts and voila! most of them were not very tight at all. Retorquing all the bolts stopped the leak. Now I have a dry motor and a new starter...happy. Just thought I would let everyone know and put some closure to this one. Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.

 

Gotta love those no cost fixes!

Chris

 

Actually while the engine is running the pressure in the cooler is higher than the pressure in the radiator. In this case the trans fluid will leak into the radiator. When you shut the engine down, the cooler pressure goes to zero almost immediately. However, the radiator will maintain pressure for possibly hours. With the engine off, the coolant can leak into the transmission.

Late 70's and early 80's GM products had a large problem with trans cooler leaks. I've seen both the radiator and transmission fluids look like strawberry milkshakes.

 

That sounds familiar..... Hey, great minds think alike!