1963 Thunderbird Coolant Leak Solved!

So this is my story..

Ever since I’ve had “Josie” I had to place a piece of cardboard or a drip pan down below. I realize a car of this age would have leaks and some are acceptable until it can be evaluated  and repaired.

One leak that bothered me was the coolant leak. My original “Pro Cool” leaked at several different places under the car. Most at the location directly under the radiator or more specific under a motor frame directly below the radiator.

The leak would appear every time I went for a ride  regardless of the distance and length of time it took to travel. It was as if the leak wasn’t tied to the engines changing conditions.

I had removed the radiator twice. Each time swearing it was a faulty new radiator causing me all this grief. Each time I pulled it out I carefully inspected the lower and the surrounding areas. Getting pissed off I never found a leak or anything that resembled it could cause a leak over temperature and pressure.

The next was to use a dye and black light. This would let me trace the leak to the exact source(s). When the dye arrived I immediately pour some onto the radiator inlet port.  I decided to wait overnight in case the leak was located in the radiator only. I figured it wouldn’t be draw into the motor if the water pump was operating.

When i checked it out the next morning there was the puddles of coolant on the floor pan. I tried the glasses and black light combo and there was no dye to be found! Now this was baffling as hell as it indicated my leak was not from the radiator.  I rechecked the water pump hose fittings, weep hole, all the freeze/core plugs, thermostat and hoses.

For whatever reason I went ahead and replaced all the hoses again and actually changed the upper radiator hose with a braided model.

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