Stopping a bolt's water leak

Tom in TN

Tom in TN

Senior Member
Question for everyone; if you had an intake manifold bolt that appears to screw into a water passage (as evidenced by water seepage) and your idea to stop it is to remove the bolt, put sealant onto the threads and screw the bolt back in place, what sort of sealant would you use?
I’m assuming that when I pull the bolt out, anti-freeze will start to gush out of the hole, so I am going to screw another bolt into the hole, hoping to block up the hole while I goop up the manifold bolt and then reinstall it.
If your solution is better than mine-by all means speak up.
Otherwise, what sealant would YOU use?
 
Make life a little easier for yourself and drain the radiator down a ways. A lot less mess and no need for a plug while you are cleaning up the threads for the sealer.
 
The head bolts on an 8ba flathead need to be sealed or they will leak water. That said the machinist that rebuilt my 8ba recommended #2 Permatex. Worked like a charm on the flathead. Should work just fine for you.
 
Like others said, everybody used to use Permatex #2 non hardening sealer. Wire buff the bolt threads clean. Lower the coolant level to below the threads and clean the hole out and dry it with brake clean. Some people might suggest running a tap in the hole but then there is risk of making the threads larger and creating a larger leak. I think I'd run a gun barrel cleaning brush through there instead. There are some good plumber pastes that would seal it too.
 
Flathead Fever said:
Like others said, everybody used to use Permatex #2 non hardening sealer. Wire buff the bolt threads clean. Lower the coolant level to below the threads and clean the hole out and dry it with brake clean. Some people might suggest running a tap in the hole but then there is risk of making the threads larger and creating a larger leak. I think I'd run a gun barrel cleaning brush through there instead. There are some good plumber pastes that would seal it too.
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There is such a thing as a cleaner tap or so I've been told. Easier to cut a slot lengthwise along the threads. Run the bolt down the hole and any gerdoo in the hole will get caught in the slot and stay there when you remove the bolt.
 
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