MEP 803a Coolant leak / gasket replacement question

I've got a slight drip at the bottom of the front gasket behind the water pump on my MEP 803. It looks like item 12 on figure 3 on the parts guide (part no. 186-6180). The gasket can be bought on it's own or part of 1 of two kits.

I really have two questions -

1) Is it possible that the leaky gasket could be caused by a bolt that came loose (looks like there's about 7 fasteners holding the pump to the engine block.

2) Is it possible to just replace this gasket since it's the one further most to the front. The TM service manual makes mention of ripping everything off including the packing (item 15), and the rear gasket (item 12). Most of the gaskets are sold independently as well so even if I have to replace all I can source them, but the packing is not and has to be bought as part of either the decarbon kit, or the complete overhaul kit. These kits run a couple of hundred bucks each and I'm not at a point where I need to get that intensive with this motor as it seems to still be happy.

Guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

The water pump is held in place with 4 or 5 bolts and then 2 nuts on the bottom section (the 2 nuts actually just hold the pump to the plate). When you pull the pump, the back plate comes off with it because the bolts hold the water pump and back pump in place. The water pump gasket is easy to find but the gasket that is in between the backing plate and head are very difficult. I purchased a gasket kit on Ebay that came from china and copied all the gaskets on gasket maker material so I would always have some on hand. I could never find the gasket that goes in between the plate and head.

jamawieb said:

The water pump is held in place with 4 or 5 bolts and then 2 nuts on the bottom section (the 2 nuts actually just hold the pump to the plate). When you pull the pump, the back plate comes off with it because the bolts hold the water pump and back pump in place. The water pump gasket is easy to find but the gasket that is in between the backing plate and head are very difficult. I purchased a gasket kit on Ebay that came from china and copied all the gaskets on gasket maker material so I would always have some on hand. I could never find the gasket that goes in between the plate and head.

Click to expand...

What would I search for on ebay to locate said gasket kit (LPW4?). Do you have to replace the packing they reference as well ? (Item 15 Part no.601-20691 - Packing - Sleeve Clinch) Is it included in the kit ?

There is an o-ring between the block and the backing plate but I've never had to replace it. I usually just grease it up and put it back together. The gasket set I attached above is actually a good set. I've even used the head gaskets on one set and it now has over 1000hours on it.

Great, thank you. I ordered a set.