coolant leak WTF??

[wildwabbit]

VT V6 series II Just finnished a top end rebuild, after doing a head gasket. Was not an issue as far as I know before the rebuild but I now have a coolant leak somwhere near the water pump however as far I can tell it is not the weter pump. ( am going to take it off soon for a look anyway) The system appears to bleed out slowly when not running, quickly when running, to a level around the top of the pump but I've inspected the housing and can't see any water leaking from the gaskets even when the motor is running. Have taken the belt off and the pump spins smoothly, no noises, and no play except for a fraction of a mill along the shaft which i would expect to be normal. I cannot pinpoint the leak but it is comming from somewhere near the belt tensioner. The heater hoses and fitting are fine (that was my first suspision) The water is trickling down the pump casing but comming from above it and I cannot see where it starts!! Am gunna take the pump off for a look anyway....seems to be at the milage where they pack it in anyway.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[wildwabbit]

Have begun to remove to wter pump but, to remove one of the nuts on the pump, have to take of the idler pully next to it as it gets in the way. OK...removed nut on front of pully wheel.........how do you get the actual pully wheel off..... any kind of levering from behind feels like its gunna do damage rather than pry the wheel off...........can see how to take the entire mount off, not sure if i have small enough sockets and uni-bits to reach it ( first remove the idler wheel above it and coilpack mount but it looks like a hell of a lot of work to get to the water pump...................has anyone changed the water pump before?? was not expexting it to be this painfull..lol

[wildwabbit]

OK.....update........

How embarasement
turned out to be the top heater hose o-ring where the fitting slots into the intake minifold. Old o-ring seemed ok but after taking out the water pump, which was fine, replaced the gasket for good measure, took off the mount for the alternater and tensioner, put all the hoses back where they belong and hey presto...water leaking from one side of the heater hose fitting in the minifold ( could not see this before with the mounts in place), I think even though the o'ring seemed like a good snug fit it may have been bunching up or twisting when i slide the fitting in..............new slightly tighter and fatter o-ring and a dash of silicon for good measure....................look out for loud ticking noise at front of engine after top end rebuild.......to be posted soon....lol