first fire issues

[A110235]

Hey everyone.  I started up my Challenger today for the first time in almost 2 years.  When I started it in 2011 it. was the first time I have ever cranked it over.  I bought it in 2004.  When I did it back then the radiator wasn't hooked up so I only let it run for a couple of seconds.  I was about to rip the car apart and I was just curious to see if it would even run.  The guy who owned it before me said he never tried to start it.  The car was in such rough shape when I bought it I just expected the 383 to be toast.  So I was really surprised it actually ran.

Well today I finished wiring everything up and hit the key.  It started right up and I only let it run for about 5 to 10 seconds until I saw that it had 50 psi oil pressure.  I rolled it outside and started filling the radiator up with water when I noticed a leak under the car.  I figured it was a freeze plug, but when I looked closer it turns out that the water was coming from the #8 spark plug. 

So here is my question.  How catastrophic is this?  Cracked head?  Cracked block?  I never turned the engine over when I started putting water in it, so where in the block could this water be coming from to get into the cylinder? 

Is there anything I can do or is the engine hosed?

Kyle

[72cudamaan]

Are you sure it's not leaking from an exhaust stud?  Unless you pulled the #8 plug, how could it be leaking there.

[A110235]

Good call cudamaan.  I was just thinking about that.

I know that the spark plug was tight.  When I checked it out the stream of water "looked like" it was coming from the spark plug so I was just thinking the worst.  There is a exhaust manifold bolt directly above it.  So most likely I am a bonehead and the Hedman header bolt didn't seal well enough.  Would a stud be better?  I gooped all of the header bolts with anti-seize.  Was that the right thing to use? 

Kyle

[Chryco Psycho]

I would use Teflon pipe dope & Teflon tape or high heat silicone to seal it up

[72cudamaan]

I like to use studs on the ends with teflon sealer. That way the header can hang while you put in the other bolts.

[Chryco Psycho]

or use all studs as I generally do to prevent leaks 

[cudabob496]

ya, drain coolant,remove header and bolts, dry out bolt holes, then reinstall header and bolts, with white pipe thread dope
on the bold threads. Let dry for a day before filling with water.  should not have anymore leaks.
if do, put some aluminized stop leak in your coolant (alumaseal).

or, drain coolant, dry out the leaking hole, put in bolt with sealant on it, wait one day, then refill and start up, if only one hole a problem.

http://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-103406-Teflon-Paste-1-oz/dp/B00FML4FKS/ref=sr_1_4?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1382331106&sr=1-4&keywords=tfe+paste

[A110235]

Awesome!  Thanks for all the tips guys.  Hopefully the engine lasts long enough to do some shakedown driving.

Kyle

[72cudamaan]

Use the green pipe dope. It's high temp, you don't wait for anything to dry and don't have to use that crap alumaseal.