Triumph Repair: coolant leak, coolant leak, english car

Question
My 1975 spitfire has developed a coolant leak that appears to be coming from
the water pump housing (where housing contacts the engine block). Is the
repair as simple as replacing a possible cracked gasket or is it likely that the
water pump needs to be replaced. The leak is most evident when the engine is
running at temperature (coolant spurts from what appears to be a small
crack/gap where pump housing meets the engine block).

Answer
Gus,

Most likely it's just the gasket between the pump housing and the cylinder head.   Normally those only get touched if you need to pull the cylinder head, but the car is 35 years old so there's a chance it's the original and has failed from age.

That doesn't mean that the water pump won't start leaking as soon as you fix the gasket.   Or that the thermostat gasket will start leaking, etc etc etc.  That's part of the challenge of driving a 35 year old English car.

The great thing about the Spitfire is that the engine is very accessible so it's easy to do one part today and another part next week.  Or if you feel better not having to worry about it you can go ahead and replace the gaskets, water pump, hoses, and belts.   



Cheers,

Jim