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Wilitrun
David M

(45 posts)

Registered:
10/21/2021 05:17PM

Main British Car:


Iron 300 front cover issues?
Posted by: Wilitrun
Date: June 12, 2022 12:30PM

Hi folks,
I'm eyeing up the iron front cover on my marine 300 in preparation for converting over the automotive parts needed for my swap, and noticed something un-nerving.
There seems to be a bleed hose running from the thermostat housing to the top of the water pump area on the aluminum front cover, that the iron marine version doesn't have. The gasket pattern also appears to be different in this area.
My question is, is there a workaround to this hose problem - can it be deleted, what's it really for, can I drill a spigot into the housing somewhere? And am I stuck with the marine version of this water pump due to the flange differences?
Yes, I've thought about transferring over the aluminum front cover. I'd love to. But the engine I have with it was on a run-to-fail program and the oil pump chambers are all scratched up with sand. With oil pressure already an issue on these engines I'd prefer to keep the iron low-hours and well-preserved iron cover, if I can. Here's some pictures of the differences. Thanks.
20220612_122027.jpg
20220612_122036.jpg


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2461 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Iron 300 front cover issues?
Posted by: mgb260
Date: June 12, 2022 01:07PM

Drill and tap for a nipple in the same location, you need the bypass on a street motor. A guy on V8Buick is using the iron cover and the gasket seals even though the bolt pattern is different. He drilled and used allen head screws. I'll post the link for you:

[www.v8buick.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/12/2022 01:13PM by mgb260.


Wilitrun
David M

(45 posts)

Registered:
10/21/2021 05:17PM

Main British Car:


Re: Iron 300 front cover issues?
Posted by: Wilitrun
Date: June 30, 2022 11:40AM

Hi Jim,
Sorry for taking so long to get back on this. I had other responsibilities interfering with chasing this down but I did get around to it yesterday.
So with the pump off the automotive 300 I can see that the spigot receiving the hose from the timing cover to the small spigot on the thermostat housing connects to a channel that goes down into the turbine housing in the timing cover. The water pump acts as the cover plate for this little channel and the gasket is cut to accommodate the water flow in this channel. The iron marine pump and timing cover have neither this nor what looks to be a bleed fitting on top of the pump shaft (not sure why one would be needed in addition to the bleed hose going to the thermostat... maybe it's an aftermarket thing?)
I found a Youtube video explaining that the 215 automotive engine does not have that channel either. Looking at Image Search it certainly seems the 215 pump looks like my iron marine 300 pump. The 215 pump also appears to have a raised flat boss or a drilling to accommodate a spigot (I guess depending on the year and application).
Also I could swear someone dropped a link for a hi-perf water pump for the 300 in the v8Buick sticky, but I've scrolled all 20 pages and can't find it anymore. I'm wondering if a 215 version of that pump is available and if it would work on my engine.
With the need for a bleed hose connecting the pump to the thermostat, and the iron timing cover not having that spigot on the back, does that mean I have to order a 215 water pump with bleed hole and spin on an elbow or do I have to come up with something else?


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2461 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Iron 300 front cover issues?
Posted by: mgb260
Date: June 30, 2022 02:00PM

David, Sounds like the 215 pump should work with a bypass hose. Flowkooler has high performance water pumps. They don't have one for the 215 but the 300 one should work if you add a nipple where the plug is.
[flowkoolerwaterpumps.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/30/2022 02:08PM by mgb260.


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Iron 300 front cover issues?
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: June 30, 2022 05:30PM

My original 215 WP does not have that raised boss. Both of my Buick 300 WPs have the threaded hole with a plug in it. I use the 300 WP because it angles down a bit under my alternator.

I can get you a pic if you like.


Wilitrun
David M

(45 posts)

Registered:
10/21/2021 05:17PM

Main British Car:


Re: Iron 300 front cover issues?
Posted by: Wilitrun
Date: June 30, 2022 08:23PM

Thanks Jim, that's exactly the pump I was looking for.
Thanks Carl, that's very kind, but I can see the angle you're talking about in these pictures. I do prefer the 300 angle as I think that's the most practical spot to put the alternator. However the ear on the pump looks too thin to support an alternator properly on its own so I'm not sure it helps me.
Hopefully these pictures help somebody. The marine spec pump seems to have a more aggressive impeller but not so much as the performance one Jim posted. On the next picture you can see the turbine housing is identical to the alloy cover and I suspect the flange surface is a 215 pattern. Doesn't look like I'll have a problem fitting the 300 style pump to this cover.
However there's a lot of rust scale, as Jim warned earlier, so I think I'll toss the 300 pump from my other engine on long enough to flush the cooling system out rather than ruin a new one with a bunch of trash grinding through it. Do I have to think about this any harder than just running a vinegar solution for 15 minutes? I don't think any of the articles I'm pulling up had heavy iron corrosion in mind.
20220630_195559.jpg
20220630_195609.jpg



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/30/2022 08:26PM by Wilitrun.


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Iron 300 front cover issues?
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: July 01, 2022 10:12AM

MY 300 WP has had an alternator adjuster arm attached to it for 21 years. The lower bracket is fastened to a head bolt.

Not sure a 15 minute vinegar solution is aggressive enough for the rusty internal water passages on your 300. Maybe Evapo-Rust for a longer period of time?



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