ok i have been on in the past few weeks with a leak that i thought was from the waterpump it looks like it is coming from behind whatever the waterpump bolts on to .... what is it and what should i do ???????

Thanks
ps it's a 97 ram sport 318

 

see the first pic in the 2nd set and the last pic in the 3rd set.
https://dodgeforum.com/m_735291/tm.htm

the timing cover sits between the water pump and the block. its only another handful of bolts to remove, except that you have to remove the harmonic balancer. you will need to buy or borrow a tool for this, and will need an impact wrench to get it loose. not hard, just another step. with this off, you can replace timing chain set, front seal, consider doing oil pan gasket if you have any leaks.

 

how do you bleed the system my top hose is not filling up....... Thanks Mike

 

easiest way is to drill a 1/8 to 3/16 hole in t-stat plate before bolting the neck on. if its too late for that then try removing the heater hose from the water pipe on the drivers side, and squirting water into both the heater hose and the water pipe, then put hose back on. crank it up set ac/htr to heat, hottest setting. watch temp gauge. as long as its not badly overheating, let it run. even if you have air in there you should eventually get enough steam going to open the tstat. btw, it took mine 2 days of driving for the htr core to quit sloshing.

 

I actually filled the top hose as much as possible before I reattached it to the radiator. Run the engine up to temp with the rad cap off and heater on full hot, you should notice when the thermostat opens and the fluid starts gushing around. Add fluid while it is circulating. I have never drilled a t-stat, and have never had a problem with air bubbles....

 

The easiest way I have found to prevent trapped air bubbles when replacing the thermostat is to physically push open the thermostat and insert 2 plain aspirins to keep the thermostat open. Complete the install just like normal, and then fill with antifreeze. The aspirins allow the antifreeze to flow freely when thesystem is being filled and will then harmlessly dissolve. Works everytime and adds nothing permanent like drilling a hole will.