I thought that the leak was from a loose hose clamp on the heater shut off valve but it's tight and the hose doesn't appear to be the cracked. Could the heater shut off valve itself be leaking? If so, it is easily fixed? Thanks
~Denny 1953 Chevy 3100 w/1960 261 cid, 848 head | Weber 32/36 progressive 2 barrel carb. | Three on the tree & 3:55 torque tube | 12 V w/Gener-Nator & 6 V starter In the Gallery Forum 1998 Chevy Suburban 350 ci awd/4wd
The valve stem packing could be the source of your leak. That hex just below the handle can be tightened a little bit to compress the packing against the stem a little. If that fails to fix the leak, the packing may be completely worn out. You can remove the stem from the valve and replace the packing using teflon packing available at any plumbing shop. Turn that hex one flat (1/6 turn) and see if the leak stops.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Suggest you clean off and dry the moisture present and recheck to see if leaking from the shut off valve stem area, the valve to adapter bushing joint, or both.
To fix a minor seep at the valve stem, it could be as easy as slightly tightening the packing nut surrounding the valve stem. There should be a packing under that collar nut that gets compressed around the valve stem to prevent leakage, but still allow the valve to operate. They do wear over time and can often just be re-compressed with a small turn of that packing nut.
For the leak at the valve to adapter bushing joint, you will need to drain down your coolant to remove the valve, clean up the mating surfaces and applies some plumbing pipe dope to the threads which should seal the threads (if they aren't damaged or corroded).
Let us know what you figure out please.
Dan
EDIT - Kevin beat me to the punch - LOL!
Last edited by Gdads51; 09/19/20233:09 PM. Reason: update
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Great advice. I was able to tighten that packing nut a bit. If that doesn't fix it I'll drain the coolant, remove the valve and seal all the threads. Thanks!
~Denny 1953 Chevy 3100 w/1960 261 cid, 848 head | Weber 32/36 progressive 2 barrel carb. | Three on the tree & 3:55 torque tube | 12 V w/Gener-Nator & 6 V starter In the Gallery Forum 1998 Chevy Suburban 350 ci awd/4wd
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Solve the problem permanently- - - -replace that elderly cutoff with a 1/4 turn ball valve. It will outlast the rest of the truck, and it won't leak. Lots of them on Ebay! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Problem solved - and it was simple. Thanks Kevin and Dan for your advice. I tightened the packing nut just a wee titch and it leaked even more. I drained the coolant, removed the valve and cleaned it up. Then I wrapped the valve stem and packing nut threads in teflon tape and voila - no leak. With the coolant drained I also replaced all the hoses since they'd been in quite a while. Thanks again for the help!
~Denny 1953 Chevy 3100 w/1960 261 cid, 848 head | Weber 32/36 progressive 2 barrel carb. | Three on the tree & 3:55 torque tube | 12 V w/Gener-Nator & 6 V starter In the Gallery Forum 1998 Chevy Suburban 350 ci awd/4wd
Glad you were able to get it fixed and came back to tell us about it.
Dan
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
