Water Pump Leak - Take it all out or not?

Had a shop take out my I6 and drop a 302 in my 1965 Stang two months ago.  Last week I noticed a horrible water leak coming from the bottom of the water pump...I tighten all screw which where a bit too loose under my assessment and the leak is less but I don't want to drive the vehicle with a leak. My questions is "can I fix without dropping all the front parts?"  I understand that taking it all apart and putting on a gasket would be the prefer way to go.

Thanks in adavance for your advice!

Bill

Valrico, FL  

If the water is coming from or near the little hole under the water pump neck near the flange where you bolt the fan on then you will have to replace the pump anyway. It means you have a bad bearing/seal. If it is coming from the pump mounting bolts or from a gasket area in between the pump mounting bolts then you can try to tighten the bolts to make the leak stop completely. If you can pin point the leak you can try to loosen up a few bolts near the leak and wipe some silicon sealer into the area and re-tighten to stop the leak. If none of that is possible or works completely then pull the pump and put in a new gasket.  

Thanks for the advice.  I'll try loosing a few bottom bolts and placing silicon...don't want todisassemble the entirefront if I don't have to.

Regards,

Bill  

If your leak is at the waterpump in the amount you say, I don't think your going to fix it without removal and inspection and most likely replacement. It's not hard, Some bolts are location specific, clean mating surfaces, use proper gasket( some pumps come with multiple gaskets that fit other apps. Time well spent and you learn.