Coolant out of header bolts?

[MoparCuda340]

Awhile back I put a steering box in my Cuda. While doing so I went to pull the drivers side exhaust header off to make more room. When I took the first bolt out it spewed coolant out. I just tightened it back down and thought dang I have a cracked head. Car doesn't run hot and no water in the coolant so I figured I'd just run it. But more recently it started a knock or exhaust leak on the passenger side. In hopes it's an exhaust leak and not a rod knock I bought a exhaust gasket to see if that'll stop the noise. When I pulled the first bolt sure enough poured coolant. Very last bolt does it too. Surely the chances it having two cracks in both heads. It has long tine headers and arp bolts. Could they have drilled and tapped it into a water jacket?


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[GoodysGotaCuda]

Small block end manifold bolts are wet [in the coolant flow] and need rtv or some sort of sealant applied to them.


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[cudabob496]

dry everything. Use white pipe thread sealant sold at hardware stores.

[7212Mopar]

The end bolts of the exhaust manifold are usually badly corroded being in the water passages. You should check and replace. If you have headers, they will get loose. Check out Stage 8 locking header bolts.

[cudabob496]

http://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=kLmY55u3&id=1C78F55DD596636814415AC6C166CE16F71EF400&q=white+pipe+thread+ptfe&simid=608028853544029553&selectedIndex=7&ajaxhist=0

[burdar]

The factory used studs in the end holes for this reason...they go into water.  If you can use studs in those locations and still clear the headers, that's what I'd do.  You won't ever have to worry about water again.  I'm leaving the studs in place on my latest project.  My TTI headers will still work with the studs.  Different header brands may not though.

[MoparCuda340]

Thank you all. I had asked a few relatively mechanically inclined guys who all said cracked head. They're all chevy guys though. The header bolts are in good shape, they look newer and ARP stainless. I'll get some thread tape or rtv.


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[blown motor]

Use pipe dope like cudabob suggested or RTV. I'm not sure thread tape will stand up to the heat.

[cudabob496]

the white pipe dope can be used immediately
the RTV needs to cure for a while

[MoparCuda340]

New gasket fixed the problem. I put high heat rtv on the end bolts which seems to have fixed a slow all coolant leak I've been chasing.

Thanks all


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