The Ford Barn

1962300 · 05-17-2015, 07:35 PM

Freshly rebuilt late 40's, crab cap flathead.
New head studs, washers and nuts that hold down Edmunds Aluminum Finned Heads.
I have broken in the engine and re-torqued the heads.

There seems to be a bit of coolant escaping from one head bolt on each side.
What is the recommended trick to close up the leak?
Maybe roll a rubber o-ring or two down the stud?

Thanks

JSeery · 05-17-2015, 07:50 PM

Some of the head studs require sealant as they go into the water jacket. Were they sealed properly when they were installed? Don't think you want to be messing with o-rings and don't think that would work anyway.

48 coupe · 05-17-2015, 07:59 PM

Just drive it for a while .It will most likely stop . mine did.

GEOFFNZ · 05-18-2015, 12:49 AM

I agree .Have had the odd one leak but seem to seal after some use.Of course they should have been better sealed initially.Geoff

stangblue · 05-18-2015, 08:01 AM

Ha! Had same problem put teflon tape on the stud into the block and Permatex under the washer and threads where the head nut is. Of course had to call wife into garage to put finger on hole of head to keep water and anti-freeze from pouring all over the place. Seemed to rectify leak so far.

Walt Dupont--Me. · 05-18-2015, 08:13 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

As they say they usually seal up but some are stinkers, I remove the nut smear RTV on the stud and torque the nut back on. Walt

Ronnie · 05-18-2015, 11:01 AM

http://barsleaks.com/product/radiato...-leak-tablets/

Or remove the studs one at a time and seal with permatex
http://www.permatex.com/products-2/p...-liquid-detail

R

my4dv8 · 05-18-2015, 02:30 PM

Forget the o ring idea , very much doubt it will help at all. Best idea is to pull the suspect stud out ,thoroughly dry out the offending holes slather the very clean stud and hole with loctite #3 non hardening sealer .and as an extra help you could grind up a seal well block and add it to boiling water to dissolve it and then add it to a warm radiator to allow it to circulate.

05-17-2015, 07:35 PM	#1
1962300 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 181	Head Stug Leakage Freshly rebuilt late 40's, crab cap flathead. New head studs, washers and nuts that hold down Edmunds Aluminum Finned Heads. I have broken in the engine and re-torqued the heads. There seems to be a bit of coolant escaping from one head bolt on each side. What is the recommended trick to close up the leak? Maybe roll a rubber o-ring or two down the stud? Thanks

05-17-2015, 07:50 PM	#2
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: Head Stug Leakage Some of the head studs require sealant as they go into the water jacket. Were they sealed properly when they were installed? Don't think you want to be messing with o-rings and don't think that would work anyway.

05-18-2015, 12:49 AM	#4
GEOFFNZ Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Oxford New Zealand Posts: 177	Re: Head Stug Leakage I agree .Have had the odd one leak but seem to seal after some use.Of course they should have been better sealed initially.Geoff

05-18-2015, 08:01 AM	#5
stangblue Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 371	Re: Head Stug Leakage Ha! Had same problem put teflon tape on the stud into the block and Permatex under the washer and threads where the head nut is. Of course had to call wife into garage to put finger on hole of head to keep water and anti-freeze from pouring all over the place. Seemed to rectify leak so far. __________________ Assumption is the mother of all foul-ups.

05-18-2015, 08:13 AM	#6
Walt Dupont--Me. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gardiner Me. Posts: 4,200	Re: Head Stug Leakage Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) As they say they usually seal up but some are stinkers, I remove the nut smear RTV on the stud and torque the nut back on. Walt

05-17-2015, 07:59 PM	#3
48 coupe Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Shell Knob Missouri Posts: 152	Re: Head Stug Leakage Just drive it for a while .It will most likely stop . mine did.

05-18-2015, 11:01 AM	#7
Ronnie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canada Where it snows Posts: 2,059	Re: Head Stug Leakage http://barsleaks.com/product/radiato...-leak-tablets/ Or remove the studs one at a time and seal with permatex http://www.permatex.com/products-2/p...-liquid-detail R

05-18-2015, 02:30 PM	#8
my4dv8 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,143	Re: Head Stug Leakage Forget the o ring idea , very much doubt it will help at all. Best idea is to pull the suspect stud out ,thoroughly dry out the offending holes slather the very clean stud and hole with loctite #3 non hardening sealer .and as an extra help you could grind up a seal well block and add it to boiling water to dissolve it and then add it to a warm radiator to allow it to circulate.