Water pump leak

[fordfun]

My '29 Sport Coupe is leaking antifreeze through the packing nut on the water pump. Can additional packing be added while the pump is still in the car? I hope so as I have a 4-blade fan and I understand the radiator must be removed to remove the pump.

I bought 2 strands of lead impregnated packing material and attempted to install one wrap of these today. I was unable to refasten the packing nut, so apparently that was too much. The packing came without any installation instructions, so I'm not sure if I am supposed to separate a strand from the "bundle" and try packing that in first, etc. There's very little clearance between the backed off packing nut and the housing to tamp the packing up into the cavity of the nut. Any suggestions will be greatly received.

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

If the old packing won't seal by tightening the nut, then you may have to remove it to install the new lead packing rings. Be sure to pack grease all over the new packing rings, or you may have a constant drip. I used lead packing rings, greased them well, and only tightened the nut a couple times in 10 years, and the pump never leaked a bit of antifreeze.

 

[Brentwood Bob]

Is the shaft pitted when you open up the packing nut to put in more packing? Tom's suggestion is to replace the packing with new stuff. 2 rings of new packing should leave 5 or 6 threads exposed next to the housing when you snug up the packing nut with the new packing in place. Tighten only enough to stop the drip. If the shaft is corroded you won't get a good seal. Time to rebuild the water pump. Bob

 

[Richard Wilson]

To add to the above comments, the packing nut is usually hard for me to restart with new packing, but it will go back on. Be careful to not cross thread it.