coolant leak from bell housing

[archiethe3rd]

I have been driving my 78 for the nice months here in Kansas city, MO (March, April, May and June). All my driving thus far has been short trips, brief highway miles and city driving, less than 15 miles a day. I am fairly fanatical about checking my fluids and looking at the engine, but never checked my coolant overflow. When it started to get warmer, in the Mid 80's, I finally noticed my coolant overflow reservoir was empty. I filled it to between Min. and Max. with 50/50 coolant and water, and continued to check it every 2 days. It seemed to keep the car running cooler, but I also noticed the sweet smell of coolant when I would get out of the car after driving. I would fill it back up as needed and began to wonder, "Where's all this coolant going?".

On July 4th, the engine got hotter than it ever has, but not in the red and I shut it down, luckily at my destination. It sat for a couple of hours and I drove home (3 miles) and it was fine. A week later, I was walking to the car and noticed a puddle underneath. I thought OIL but it was COOLANT. I started it, let it run, and watched a slow drip, but couldn't tell where it was coming from. I put it up on ramps and it looked as though the coolant was dripping off the bottom of the bell housing.

I've only seen one thread about this, but it didn't speak specifically to my problem. Am I screwed? Don't sugarcoat it
And as always, thanks in advance for any help.

P.S. I have a photo of coolant dripping from the bell housing but I'm sure we can all visualize that.

[azruss]

There are a few possibilities. Check you heater hoses at the firewall and see if there are any drips from there. Are those hoses swollen at the clamps. Look at your oil for any signs of foaming (will look like chocolate milkshake). some cars have a small hose line coming off the heater hose hardline under the exhaust manifold. check the condition of that hose. There is a large plate on the back of the block that could be leaking as well. Last, but not lease, is your head gasket.

[djape1977]

there's no coolant running tru bellhousing.
perhaps a hose running from engine to cabin heater is busted. that's aproximately above the bellhousing

[archiethe3rd]

I have checked the hoses, but could spend more time there. I have not had any foaming oil either, which I knew could be a head gasket. I will see if I can pin point a hose leak. Thanks.

[131]

If you can't find a leaking or split hose, pinhole in the heater pipe from the water pump can be an issue, or the gasket where that pipe attaches to the waterpump, welsh plugs, head gasket etc. There is a plate that bolts on to the back of the block, covering a large opening in to the waterjacket. If that's leaking you'll get coolant dripping from the bell housing, an engine out job to rectify.

[archiethe3rd]

I've not found a leak in a hose, but coolant is at times flowing from right in front of the bell housing. This sounds expensive. Any ideas and advise is appreciated.