leaky drip from my head

M

materguru

Member
I have a newly rebuilt flathead...49' Merc and I did most of the upper and an engine builder "Dreamwerks" did the internals. That being said, I have a couple of studs that are leaking on the drivers side...if that matters. I was told by a friend out west in CA that should know much as he deals with these motors. He said to pull the problem stud/s and dope them up with a good RTV and that should/would do it. I did that and its still leaking but not anywhere near as bad but I haven't run the engine much more than to tune it at this point. I was also told by some Flatty guys that a lot of times they seal or quit leaking on their on..as you put more miles on it. I would like some qualified advise on fixing the stud leaks please. I know all the funny answers so please something helpful.
 
If it's just a small amount, run it for a while. it usually will seal itself.
You can, if you like, add some Alumaseal® to the cooling system. This is the powdered aluminum stuff that comes in a tube about the size of a roll of quarters. It stays in motion except where it finds a leak. In other words, no worries about clogging anything you don't want clogged.
 
Kube said:
If it's just a small amount, run it for a while. it usually will seal itself.
You can, if you like, add some Alumaseal® to the cooling system. This is the powdered aluminum stuff that comes in a tube about the size of a roll of quarters. It stays in motion except where it finds a leak. In other words, no worries about clogging anything you don't want clogged.
Click to expand...

Thanks so far. Interesting about the seal stuff. I have "Evans" waterless in the coolant system so I don't know if that would effect the cooling properties but I can check if need be.
 
materguru said:
I have a newly rebuilt flathead...49' Merc and I did most of the upper and an engine builder "Dreamwerks" did the internals. That being said, I have a couple of studs that are leaking on the drivers side...if that matters. I was told by a friend out west in CA that should know much as he deals with these motors. He said to pull the problem stud/s and dope them up with a good RTV and that should/would do it. I did that and its still leaking but not anywhere near as bad but I haven't run the engine much more than to tune it at this point. I was also told by some Flatty guys that a lot of times they seal or quit leaking on their on..as you put more miles on it. I would like some qualified advise on fixing the stud leaks please. I know all the funny answers so please something helpful.
Click to expand...

Tell us....Was a TAP run through the head bolt threads in the block before assembly? DD
.
 
I like to use aviation or non hardening permatex on cylinder head studs or bolt threads. I recently had one on my 21 stud engine seeping a drop or two occasionally after doing some necessary work that required replacing the head gasket. I just left it alone and it eventually sealed itself.
 
It is my opinion that ANY stud or bolt that goes into the water jacket must have a thread sealer of some type on it. I only use silicone sealer on overhead aluminum intakes at the front and rear at the block. Also I have an old style sealant powder that radiator shops use that I also put into the coolant. Whether it is a flathead or modern overhead this has never failed me.
 
If you're checking with Evans, you might ask them if it is okay to use a 'waterglass' type of sealer (some call it a ceramic sealer). This stuff works extremely well on these sorts of issues - the brand that I use is:

https://www.jegs.com/i/Moroso/710/35500/10002/-1

Given what Evans is all about (it is not a water product), my guess is that you'd drain/save the Evans, flush with water and then use the Ceramic seal (following the instructions to the letter). Then once you knew the system was sealing, you'd drain the water and follow the instructions from Evans to put it back into the system.
 
materguru said:
probably, i dont know. they were navarro heads from H&H
Click to expand...

Runing a TAP (rather than a THREAD CHASER) through those holes likely helped them to leak. Those bolt holes are a special, tightly-fit thread to aid in sealing against leaks using factory head bolts. DD
.
 
white pepper is what the older guys say. My father used to open up a cigarette and put it in the radiator when it had a leak Lol. true story.
 
GSCOV said:
white pepper is what the older guys say. My father used to open up a cigarette and put it in the radiator when it had a leak Lol. true story.
Click to expand...


My Dad used to open-up a cigarette and smear it all over the welt any time I got a bee sting as a creepy LITTLE kid. DD

.
 
V8COOPMAN said:
My Dad used to open-up a cigarette and smear it all over the welt any time I got a bee sting as a creepy LITTLE kid. DD

.
Click to expand...


If my Dad had thought about doing that, his thrifty mindset would have had him scrounge a couple of stinking Camel butts for the task rather than to waste a perfectly good whole cigarette.

My older brother got it right with a mud pie on my sting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top