98 V70XC 2.5l turbo wagon coolant leak near heater inlet/outlet of engine

[rocky_mtn_man]

Was thinking it might be a head gasket leak, so I pressurized the cooling system with a home-made regulator and pressure gauge from grainger (originally for a leakdown test using a spark plug adaptor). My compressor can't regulate low enough for safely testing 16-20psi cooling systems.

I put a tee in the coolant recovery line and used a blow gun to pressurize the hose; water started leaking, but not from the head, it seemed to be near the heater inlet/outlet. No foam in coolant or oil dipstick, engine runs smoothly.

I've read about heater core repairs, there was always a coolant smell in the cabin, and the heat/AC fan died, so this may be a time to replace hoses and interior heater core. BUT, since I'm not sure if this car also might have a head gasket leak, can I pull those hoses, blow the coolant out of the heater core, and tie them up after using a dremel cutter to cut the clamps off the hose connectors to make a bypass hose for a hillbilly fix good enough to continue testing the engine? I'd buy brass plugs if I could find them, preferably. Anyone know the thread size for the hoses that go into the block?

Also have to repair a leak in the output shaft of the transmission, it's been a slow leaker for years. I've read about it here, and robert's diy videos.

rocky_mtn_man (Boulder, CO)