part ID question/help

[jonathan-m]

Sorry, I know this will sound a bit silly, but I am still in the process of learning all of the parts and functions of an engine and I am not at all familiar with this one. Today while I had my 66 out I noticed that the big black box in the left corner of the engine-bay started leaking lots of fluid after I parked the truck ( I had driven about an hour, and it was a very hot day). My engine temp gauge doesn't work, but I thought that maybe the leaking had to do with the engine getting too hot. The only reason I thought to check it was that I could smell a faint odd smell in the cab after I parked it. Can anyone tell me what that box is, and what sort of fluid would leak out of it? Is this a big time problem, something I need to work out right away (this truck's my daily driver). Thanks guys!

Jon

[Anthony Fremont]

Looks like you drew a circle around your blower motor. Insided the big black box is a thing much like a tiny radiator. It is your heater core and it is aparently leaking. If you don't need your heater, you can remove the hoses running to the black box, shorten them up if desired, and connect them together with a piece you can buy at pretty much any auto parts store. You can remove the whole assembly from the firewall then; it really cleans up the engine compartment. If you do need a heater, then you probably need a new heater core or to have yours repaired at a radiator shop.

[jonzcustomshop]

also don't drive too long with that leaking, it is connected to your engines cooling system, and once you are completely out of fluid you will blow up the engine.
you should check your radiator level now (while the system is cold, not hot), and top it off if needed.
then do one of the fixes that anthony mentioned right away.

[padresag]

and when you go to take it out there are 2 --1/2" nuts on the inside that are difficult to find; there are 2 holes in the firewall insulation/liner on the inside
ron

[jonathan-m]

Great, Thanks guys!
I don't use the heater at all (Florida boy), so I will just remove the whole darn thing.
Thanks again for the tips!

Jon

[padresag]

it does help with the overall cooling of your eng. you are removing capacity.
ron

[TimE]

Originally Posted by jonathan-m

I don't use the heater at all (Florida boy), so I will just remove the whole darn thing.

Aw, c'mon man , there has to be at least 1 or 2 times a year when you would need a heater. J/K

For the time being, you can loop the heater hose from the intake to the water pump. This will work as a temporary bypass so you can still drive the truck until you have the time to fix it right.

[jonathan-m]

Well, I got to work on her today. I bypassed the heater like Anthony suggested and completely flushed/ cleaned out the coolant system ( it was DIRTY). I'll be adding coolant in the morning and taking her out again by noon time.
I managed to do all of that without severely burning myself either. that's always a plus. lol
The only thing that I didn't get done was pulling off the heater completely. I think I found the two bolts that are in the fire-wall, but I can't figure out how to get them loose. They are screwed into a square bolt mount, and I have no way of turning them. Ah well, it was all fun!

Thanks for your help guys, I think I learned a bit more useful info about engines today

Jon

[padresag]

you need either a 7/16 or 1/2" deep socket. they are actually speed nuts (pressed tin) either that or pull the insulation out and go in behind with a wrencron