coolant leak

[moparpursuit]

In my 71 d200(318)I am leaking coolant from what apears to be just below the water pump. I cant quite see where it's coming from. What are tell tale signs that ones water pump is done... besides a leak. Could it be something else? I can see it's not a hose.

[Hobcobble]

How are the soft plugs on the front of the engine?
How is the gasket on the water pump? Have you crawled
underneath the truck and tried to pinpoint where the
leak may be coming from? Some water pumps will squeak
or squeal while the engine is running. How has your
coolant temperature been lately? Are all of your
hoses in good shape?.... all securely clamped?
John

[wideblock]

most water pumps have a seep hole in the nose cone, on the bottom, just behind the pully mounting flange. sounds like its leaking there. if it is, your pump is about to go out. those only leak when the pump shaft seal is trashed. anything past that, i second what john said.

[moparpursuit]

Not sure what soft plugs are. Hoses are new and clamps tight. T dont drive the truck much but have let it fully warm up lately. It's when it's warm when the leak occurs. A couple of times, recently, there was a stange noise (not quite a high pitched sqeal more like a rumble)at start up. Id turn it off for a few seconds, restart and it was gone. Happend like three times. Actually the problem Im having is pinpointing the leak. It sounds like, according to wideblock, my waterpump is on it's way out. I'll start with that.
Thanks, Rick

[70-D100]

sounds like a water pump to me too.

[LABBINSKI]

Pull the belt or belts and grab ahold of the fan and see if it rocks toward the engine and pull towards the radiator then spin the fan and listen to hear if the bearing is load and if therre is alot of play in it i'm sure you could condemn the water pump It sounds like a dynamic leak only under pressure does it do so