Coolant leak above Passenger Feet

[Logan Robb]

As is with my luck with this car (I still love it to pieces, just needs some TLC from neglect and not being driven) I’ve developed another issue. 

A small coolant leak has started from the Passenger Side footwell. This happened once about a year ago, hasn’t happened since. It’s now happened again, much worse this time, after I did a major flush of the coolant system about 2 months ago. 

I am guessing this is coming from the heater core which sounds like no fun to change or even try to inspect. 

The weather here in central IL is cooling (for now) and I won’t need the AC. Heat is marginal as it gets put away in about November anyway. 

What are the best suggestions to reversibly and temporarily block off the heater core until I do a major overhaul of the Comfort Control in the future? 

Picture of reference of where the leak is at. 

[Chris McBride]

Your neighborhood part store will stock a by-pass kit.  I will try to post a picture of an example.  Alternatively, you can buy hose caps for the heater hose outlets at the front of the engine.  hth 

IMG_0726.jpeg

[Logan Robb]

Yep! The carpet is like new. So that’s a bummer. It was pretty soaked. I’ve got a carpet cleaner and there baking soda soaking up the worse of if now. 

Have any experience with Alumaseal? Not crazy about the idea…. I’ve heard they plug stuff up pretty bad. 

[Chris McBride]

You can by-pass the heater core in 20 minutes or less.  I’ve never been a fan of stop leak additives.  I only used such products in desperation on beaters when I was young and impoverished.

[Logan Robb]

Upon thinking on this issue for the past week or so-I think the best resolution for now to cap and bypass the heater core. 

I do want heat eventually, however, with a our wedding coming up and the 64 Fleetwood being the 3rd Star of the Day, I can dig into that right now. 

Correct me if I am wrong, but the photo posted below, those are the inlet/outlet lines from the heater core, right? All I should need to do is find the correct fittings and a length of hose and loop them together?

I want to be sure that I can return the system back to original functioning condition when the time comes, so making sure I have everything correct is crutial. 

Thanks all!

Logan

[Logan Robb]

[Logan Robb]

Ignore the center arrow, that one was added by mistake 

[Logan Robb]

Thats a good tip! Thank you. 

Logan

[Jacob Simmons]

Hello, how did the end result turn out? This thread is fairly old, but my '64 has developed a similar issue, leaking in the passenger footwell. If you were able to bypass it, any photos or steps you took to complete the process? How was the end result? Still able to drive the car without any leaks? 

[Jacob Foster]

Hi Jacob, I had this same problem with 1964 Sedan Deville and was able to temporarily bypass it using and barbed male to mass brass hose connector. If I remember correctly it was more of an adapter that allowed me to connect the two different size heater hoses together. I simply disconnected each hose from the heater core on the engine firewall and then connected them together using the brass adapter and the original hose clamps. This worked great for me in a pinch. I later replaced the heater core…it was a pain, very tactical but I got through it successfully. Good luck on your project! Glad to help however possible. -Jacob