Can Not get Idle Down on Flathead

farmerdick

Senior Member
Before I can find a vacuum leak to deal with the high idle, I have another problem. I mentioned earlier that I had antifreeze coming from the drivers side exhaust. I checked the torque and found it to be right on(60 ft lbs). I then took the head pipe off and found the center tube wet with antifreeze. I took #1,#3 and the next one to the right of #3. Antifreeze started coming out of the #3 bolt hole. The numbers are in the torque sequence. What do I do now?
 
Some head studs/bolts holes go into the water jacket. That is why you would put sealant on the threads when installing them. To see if maybe the head gasket is blown you should put the bolts back in and do a compression check. Or maybe just pull that head off and see if there is a crack, if lucky, and there is not put a new head gasket on and be good to go.
Good luck.
 
I’m confused, Is antifreeze coming out of the exhaust bolt holes? Or out of the cylinder head bolts?
If exhaust, then you’ve got a crack or rust through, if cyl head, it could be just a gasket or?
Only way to find out is to pull the head off.
 
P.S. Will putting sealant on the head bolts keep coolant from getting into the exhaust ports?

Probably not. I hate to be the one to break the news to you, but you probably have a cracked block. It certainly bears further inspection.
 
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