Just took my stock '71 out for a spin. She has been running great and a joy to drive lately!!!

I usually do not drive her in the rain, but had to take a little spin tonite in the light sprinkle. A few miles into my drive, (I assume) the alt. belt starts to squeal, so I start to head back home as it was annoying. Halfway home, I notice the temp gauge is just about maxed @ 250!! I pull over and let her cool down until the gauge is strait up and down and make an easy 3 mile drive home. Just as I get to my driveway, the temp. guage is at max again. I shut her down and raise the hood to let her cool down. most of the steam is coming from around the water pump.

Could this have been caused by a loose or glazed belt, or could the water pump have gone gunny bag? Is there any easy way to check the water pump by hand? I am writing this as I let her cool enough to go out and check the coolant level.

I am hoping I didn't do any damage by driving her hot!!

Any advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

Regards,

Astrohog

My bet is the water pump seized and that's what caused the belt squealing. The other possibility is that the belt was very loose and was slipping which caused the car to overheat, but you probably would not see steam from the water pump, it would more likely be a hose or even worse, a head gasket.

I think I figured it out. Checked the coolant level after she cooled off and had to add almost two gallons! I fired her up and (with a flashlight as it is dark here now) looked arounf the water pump where I was seeing steam before. There was a steady little stream of water coming from around the water pump.

I am hoping it is just the water pump now, and that I did not do any further damage. I would sure hate to have her down for the count this time of year!

Astro

Well, I installed the new water pump and all is well now!

Thanks for your help all!

BTW, I think the source of the sqealing noise was the "rusty growths" on the original cast impeller on the old water pump cutting grooves into the internals of the block!!!

Regards,

Astrohog

Well, I installed the new water pump and all is well now!

Thanks for your help all!

BTW, I think the source of the sqealing noise was the "rusty growths" on the original cast impeller on the old water pump cutting grooves into the internals of the block!!!

Regards,

Astrohog

Your shaft seal was probably gone, causing the leak. I hope that you meant that the grooves were getting cut into the water pump and not the block which would actually be the timing cover. I had a pump go out and punch a tiny hole in the timing cover which led to water seeping into the block. I was about to pull the head because I was thinking 'head gasket' until I noticed the hole in the timing cover.

Unfortunately I DID mean the timing cover!! Some small grooves worn into it, but not too deep from the looks of it. I have an L28 that I will be swapping next spring, so I just need it to make it until then!!!

Astro