coolant leak from v/c bolts

[arcticmopar]

Has anyone else seen coolant weeping from the valve cover bolt holes on a set of EDY RPM's?
I was removing some homemade studs and putting in a set of ARP studs and A/F kept weeping from the lower bolt hole between the two rear cyl's on the pass side. 

[73EStroker]

You sure that it was not spilled coolant from somewhere else? Only thing I can think of to prove this one way or the other is to pressurise the rad with the valve covers off. That way you will see if coolant comes out the bolt holes.

[arcticmopar]

 Definitely not spilled, I watched it refill and spill out of the hole as i was wipping it clean. It kept doing it till I put the other studs back in. Havn't had any cooling problems,course it only warm not hot.

[tman]

I had the same situation with my old 70 383 Superbee and now my 70 440 cuda.  I have seen other people have the same drips on big blocks and some that don't.  Is it normal?  Based on my experience I would say Yes and No.  Its a mystery why that happens. 

[arcticmopar]

Well from stock iron heads yes, they are wet behind the exhaust studs. I know my alluminum Edelbrocks are dry there but not sure about the valve cover bolt holes. For the last two seasons I've had the eddys on I've only had studs in place except for the other night so it may just be fine.

[moper]

Those should be blind holes. Remove the stud and with a good light and magnifying glass see if you can see where it's coming from. It could be porosity. That does soem wierd stuff. but That area should be pretty thick...

[arcticmopar]

 Well Moper, the hole is clean and solid (still blind) so must be porisity. I went back to using one of my older v/c studs in that hole. They bottom out and I used both teflon tape and paste on it. Will go for a little cruise tonight and see. Thanks for the insight.

[femtnmax]

There have been weeping thru aluminum valve covers, and now the same problem on aluminum heads.
This all points to poor casting techniques.  Internet search said that heat and quantity of molten metal available for the pour can cause porosity problems...the pour cools to quickly in the mold so air is trapped in the pour.

[moper]

fent,
Yeah... MPs W5s suffered from this, as did the early Stage VIs. Many imported castings (crosswind intakes, 440Source water pump housings, etc) also suffer from it. I haven't seen Edelbrocks with it but they do have core shift issues so it seems reasonable to think they might have an occasional issue with it too. I just havent seen it.

[Strawdawg]

I would call up Edelbrock and tell them of the problem to see what they may offer...if anything....