Header bolt leaks water - Moparts Forums

Register Log In Moparts Forums Unlawfl's Race & Engine Tech Header bolt leaks water

Print Thread

Page 1 of 2

1

2

Header bolt leaks water #1545910 12/10/13 08:28 AM 12/10/13 08:28 AM
Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 411 Harleysville, PA USA T Tommy D OP mopar
Tommy D OP mopar T Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 411 Harleysville, PA USA	Looking for help or ideas to seal headers to heads. I have a set of modified 452 heads on my Road Runner's 440. I recently replaced my headers with a new set of Doug's. During replacement, i found that the threads on the driver's side head were pretty far gone. Through the advise of a friend I reluctantly heli-coiled the header bolt holes. Since repairing, I have been unsuccessful in sealing the coolant. I do not have enough room to run studs. Any ideas on sealing the leaks?? I've tried pipe dope, and even silicone RTV. The RTV seemed to seal better than the pipe dope, but I still have a trickling leak. Tom

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: Tommy D] #1545911 12/10/13 08:32 AM 12/10/13 08:32 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,394 Q Quicktree I Win
Quicktree I Win Q Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,394	just put a little silicone on the bolt.

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: Tommy D] #1545912 12/10/13 08:33 AM 12/10/13 08:33 AM
Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,613 Deerfield, Ohio 70dusterjohn top fuel
70dusterjohn top fuel Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,613 Deerfield, Ohio	We have used thread tape with good results. Don't know if it would help you but worth a try ! The also sell the copper RTV that my brother says works, but I have not tried it.

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: Tommy D] #1545913 12/10/13 10:23 AM 12/10/13 10:23 AM
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 13,185 aZLiViN J J_BODY I Live Here
J_BODY I Live Here J Joined: May 2003 Posts: 13,185 aZLiViN	take it you didn't put any epoxy in the holes when you installed the heli coils. This might be a tough one to seal.

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: J_BODY] #1545914 12/10/13 10:39 AM 12/10/13 10:39 AM
Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 411 Harleysville, PA USA T Tommy D OP mopar
Tommy D OP mopar T Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 411 Harleysville, PA USA	I did not use epoxy when installing the heli-coils, but I did use pipe dope. It sealed, but once the engine got up to temp and the system pressurized, the leaks started. I took the pipes off and cleaned the bolt holes as good as I could. I then used black Permatex on the bolts. That worked ok for a bit, but started to seep shortly thereafter.

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: Tommy D] #1545915 12/10/13 10:42 AM 12/10/13 10:42 AM
Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 343 S.E.Mich D drew72 enthusiast
drew72 enthusiast D Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 343 S.E.Mich	Have you tried the green pipe dope ? That is for hi temp.

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: drew72] #1545916 12/10/13 10:56 AM 12/10/13 10:56 AM
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,910 Eighty Four, PA B G Racing master
B G Racing master Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,910 Eighty Four, PA	Use Dike sealer by Conklin.Add to coolant and circulate under normal cooling pressure for 10 minutes [IMG]http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/qq21/ajcasini/max_zpsdppwd9km.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: drew72] #1545917 12/10/13 10:56 AM 12/10/13 10:56 AM
Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 189 long island new york K kingdust member
kingdust member K Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 189 long island new york	drain all the water out again and seal the bolts with permatex (ultra copper) silicone. put it back together but don't put any water or antifreeze in it till the next day, let the silicone set up and harden. problem solved! what I do on factory heads is I install small 1/4 allen head set screws in the bolt holes and use a slightly smaller header bolt and the water wont come out when you take the header off and make a mess. good luck. mark LIFE IS A LESSON,YOU LEARN IT WHEN YOUR THROUGH!

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: Tommy D] #1545918 12/10/13 11:11 AM 12/10/13 11:11 AM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,506 Az Crizila master
Crizila master Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,506 Az	Hardening Permatex on the bolt threads. Don't know what you are running for a rad pressure cap, but you could try dropping it down to 7 or 10 lbs. Last edited by Crizila; 12/10/13 11:42 AM. Fastest 300

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: Crizila] #1545919 12/10/13 12:44 PM 12/10/13 12:44 PM
Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 411 Harleysville, PA USA T Tommy D OP mopar
Tommy D OP mopar T Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 411 Harleysville, PA USA	I just checked the radiator cap I recently purchased from Year One. It is a 16LB cap!! Is this a part of my problem? In one of the earlier responses cap pressure was brought up. I may have to go back to the old Stant piece from NAPA? Any thoughts are appreciated...and thanks for all the help so far. TD

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: Tommy D] #1545920 12/10/13 12:52 PM 12/10/13 12:52 PM
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI MR_P_BODY Master
MR_P_BODY Master Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI	I just use Stop Leak in the cooling system... I use that in every fresh build... the high pressure cap does raise the boiling point but if you have a good cooling system you dont need it that high

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: MR_P_BODY] #1545921 12/10/13 12:58 PM 12/10/13 12:58 PM
Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 6,906 IL, Aurora A ademon master
ademon master A Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 6,906 IL, Aurora	Quote: I just use Stop Leak in the cooling system... I use that in every fresh build... the high pressure cap does raise the boiling point but if you have a good cooling system you dont need it that high I had a seep and used the little round 1" puck shaped stop leak sealed right up.

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: Tommy D] #1545922 12/10/13 12:59 PM 12/10/13 12:59 PM
Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 30,424 Florida STAYcation dOc ! The village idiot's idiot
dOc ! The village idiot's idiot Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 30,424 Florida STAYcation	Quote: and even silicone RTV. The RTV seemed to seal better than the pipe dope, but I still have a trickling leak. Tom ....have you let that rtv cure for 24 hours or so ?

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: Tommy D] #1545923 12/10/13 01:12 PM 12/10/13 01:12 PM
Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 19,317 State of confusion T Thumperdart I Live Here
Thumperdart I Live Here T Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 19,317 State of confusion	Quote: Looking for help or ideas to seal headers to heads. I have a set of modified 452 heads on my Road Runner's 440. I recently replaced my headers with a new set of Doug's. During replacement, i found that the threads on the driver's side head were pretty far gone. Through the advise of a friend I reluctantly heli-coiled the header bolt holes. Since repairing, I have been unsuccessful in sealing the coolant. I do not have enough room to run studs. Any ideas on sealing the leaks?? I've tried pipe dope, and even silicone RTV. The RTV seemed to seal better than the pipe dope, but I still have a trickling leak. Tom ARP studs and sealant...............gone forever. 72 Dart 470 n/a BB stroker street car `THUMPER`...Check me out on FB Dominic Thumper for videos and lots of carb pics......760-900-3895.....

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: Thumperdart] #1545924 12/10/13 01:28 PM 12/10/13 01:28 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,931 P Paul_Fancsali master
Paul_Fancsali master P Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,931	Do not do the job in a unheated garage below 55 degrees or so if you must to cure the silicone use a quick hit with a heat gun

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: Paul_Fancsali] #1545925 12/10/13 01:40 PM 12/10/13 01:40 PM
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,257 gulfport, ms, west mi rowin4 master
rowin4 master Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,257 gulfport, ms, west mi	I think the problem is that the leak is coming from around the heli coil thread not the header bolt. That is going to be a problem as the pipe dope sealant used will continue to erode and remain leaking. I would try a good stop leak first , if that doesn't work then you might have to drill out the coils and screw them back in after cleaning the holes. Use the proper epoxy that will take heat. it's ok to butt heads, just don't do it with a butthead

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: rowin4] #1545926 12/10/13 01:43 PM 12/10/13 01:43 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 13,357 Marion, South Carolina [><] an8sec70cuda I Live Here
an8sec70cuda I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 13,357 Marion, South Carolina [><]	Quote: I think the problem is that the leak is coming from around the heli coil thread not the header bolt. That is going to be a problem as the pipe dope sealant used will continue to erode and remain leaking. I would try a good stop leak first , if that doesn't work then you might have to drill out the coils and screw them back in after cleaning the holes. Use the proper epoxy that will take heat. Or use a solid threaded insert. CHIP '70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60 '69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60 '71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75 '73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75 '90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt '06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: an8sec70cuda] #1545927 12/10/13 03:18 PM 12/10/13 03:18 PM
Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 411 Harleysville, PA USA T Tommy D OP mopar
Tommy D OP mopar T Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 411 Harleysville, PA USA	Thanks to all. I have allowed 24 plus hours for the RTV to cure. The garage was cold though. I think I'll try Mark's idea with the copper Permatex. Sending the headers out to be coated now. Will install after the Holiday. I appreciate all the help from the folks on this site. Merry Christmas. Tom

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: Tommy D] #1545928 12/10/13 03:29 PM 12/10/13 03:29 PM
Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 2,224 Arlington, Tx. B BJS racing top fuel
BJS racing top fuel B Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 2,224 Arlington, Tx.	On small blocks I've used set screws with sealant on them just far enough in to where it doesn't interfere with the bolts. Then it doesn't leak when you take the bolts out! Back in the swing of things at Painless again! Great to be back!

Re: Header bolt leaks water [Re: BJS racing] #1545929 12/10/13 03:41 PM 12/10/13 03:41 PM
Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 411 Harleysville, PA USA T Tommy D OP mopar
Tommy D OP mopar T Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 411 Harleysville, PA USA	That's a good idea. I may give that a try as well. You're the second to suggest it. The coolant is always an extra, step.

Page 1 of 2

1

2

Moderated by Al_Alguire, Hotwheelsjr, moparts, not_a_charger, RangerDan440, tboomer

Hop To

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1