Leaky 289 water neck

buzzboy · 10-20-2009

I just recently got my car back from my mechanic after getting new intake, headgaskets, carb, clutch and when he was putting it back together he noticed my cheap water-neck was warped so he machined it smooth and RTVed that thing in place.

Now I am 300 miles away at school and I noticed a pool under my car so I look and there is a slow drip coming out of the waterneck between it and the intake.

Now I'm looking around for a good water neck but it's hard to find the right thing. I see a lot of the cheap ones with the oring sealing surface but that is just the same thing I have now and I'm afraid it won't last long like this one. The nicer ones that use gaskets however are 90° bends instead of the 45° bend that I am looking for. Any suggestions?

The Greek · 10-21-2009

I've bought a cast iron 45* housing from NAPA. It was ugly, but I don't think it will ever wear out. I found that the type with the O-ring will leak if it's tightened too much. Try backing off on the bolts a little bit. It might stop leaking until you get another.

Ivy66GT · 10-21-2009

Is this what you need?

65-67 THERMOSTAT HOUSING FITS 289, 302 AND 351W

I have one, not bad for a repro. Uses the original style paper gasket, 45 degree bend just like the original. I don't know what number is on it since the number is completely hidden when in use. This one has the thermostat recess. Earlier cars had the recess in the manifold and used a neck without the recess that had a part number of C4OE-something - I can't read the rest of the number on the one I have.

jspagna1 · 10-21-2009

Ya don't get those chrome ones, thye always leak. Get the cast iron one and just spary it silver so it looks better. I ran into the same problems till I switched.

buzzboy · 10-21-2009

Headed down to the FLAPS and they had just what I needed. Tried to sell me a chrome one but I wanted the paper gasket one. So on the paper gasket, should I use any sealant? Permatex, RTV or the like?

buzzboy · 10-22-2009

Anyone, simple clueless question?

Joel_L · 10-22-2009

I use peratex ( non hardening ) on mine. I also bought one of the cast aluminum necks, works well.