I have a Mopar performance iron block and heads. This is my first Hemi so a lot is new to me. I have an oil leak at the right front head to block area. It is a pretty steady drip like every 10 to 15 seconds when good and hot. Left bank seems OK but I do see some oil covering the bottom of the head to block area. No drips yet. I paid to have this built and was mothballed while I finished the car. Builder is out of business but even if he was I would not expect him to warranty it. From what my invoices show Felpro gaskets were used. Before I pull it apart I am asking for ideas as to what is a common source of leaks in that area and what is the best fix once I pull it down. Thanks in advance.

It's possible the intake manifold is over tightened. If I hadn't seen it myself I wouldn't believe it but sometimes if you just back off the bolts on front of manifold and snug them back up it can stop a leak. Water leakage is more common at that location from overtightening.

I've also seen that the intake is not sealed well across the front where it's leaking oil down the seam between the head and the block which makes it look likes it's the head gasket when it's really leaking oil from bottom of manifold. Might try and check to make sure the bolts are tight.

I've seen the early Mopar Mega Hemi blocks leak both oil and coolant with the stock finish on the decks
Did the builder surface the decks? If not I would
The stock deck finish are real rough, the ridges are deep enough to see and feel with a thumb nail They need to be a lot smoother like stock block is

I wish it was the intake.

Cant answer what was done. Just looking as to what is there to leak. Familiar with big blocks and small blocks, Never had a gen 2 hemi so curious what can leak oil in that area.

There is a oil drain back hole in the corner of each head, ( 4 spots total). Find some pic's of Hemi heads or Hemi blocks and you will see them. You need to place some sort of sealer ( like the Right Stuff) on both sides of the head gasket around these hole locations when assembling, this came from Tim at For Hemi's Only. I would bet that where your leak is.

You can add a 1/4 oz. of florescent UV dye to the oil to pinpoint the exact source, or simply spray foot powder onto the area. The foot powder works pretty darn good to indicated the oil trace. Another option is to use a smoke machine in the crankcase and watch to see where the smoke comes out.

No need for any more look for tricks. I can wipe and watch it seep out in that area between the head and block.

No pressurized oil at the front of the head.

The oil drain in each corner is just that, a drain. Most of the oil goes to the back due to engine angle on most cars.

Hard to believe the source of the leak has anything to do with the intake. First thing I would do is pull the valve cover and check head bolt torque.

Mine did. A hemi intake doesn't set flush on the front and rear rails and if the RTV isn't thick enough or not far enough out on the ends it will leak especially the outer corners.

[/quote]No pressurized oil at the front of the head.

The oil drain in each corner is just that, a drain. Most of the oil goes to the back due to engine angle on most cars.

Hard to believe the source of the leak has anything to do with the intake. First thing I would do is pull the valve cover and check head bolt torque.[/quote]

I agree it is not the intake. It also is not an oil pressurized location. I have to disconnect my a/c lines to pull that valve cover. I can recheck the torque once the cover is off. If I do not see any looseness I can keep going on the tear down.

No coolant in B,RB, or HEMI intakes.

Correct. The intake is a wedge friction fit and can be overtightened enough to put enough pressure on the head to cause a leak from the main coolant passage in front head gasket. There was a post here a few years ago with several hemi owners that had a small coolant leak at front of head and solved it just by backing off the front intake bolts.

Those heads must have been made of very poor quality to allow 1/4 bolts to warp them at 72 and 48 inch lbs. torque
The intake mounting surface on those heads are pretty far away from the main head cores

Known fact that due to the angle of the intake manifold face that over torquing the intake bolts can cause “the wedge effect”. But the OP is talking oil, not water. Yep, seen intake leaks, so if this thing leaks from the “T” joint down to the bottom of the head then that’s possible.
On a brand new engine, all kinds of possibilities on what could be wrong or not. We can’t rule out deck finish, etc.

Started to pull the head for the oil leak. Head will be off in the morning.Observing things as I take it apart. MP iron block and heads. Questions I have.
1- On the rocker shaft stands how many dowels. Mine just has them on the two inboard stands. Outer and center did not have any.
2-Intake gasket is .060 thick. I assume Felpro. What is the best gasket? Dry or should I coat it around the ports with something?
3-Upper head studs into intake passage. What is best to seal them with?
4-Do the head bolts go into the coolant or are they blind holes. FSM makes no reference.

NO on the original stock iron blocks and all the Mega and World iron blocks I've seen don't

Thanks Cab. I have Permatex aircraft sealant. Light coat on both sides around the intake ports? Wonder why they did not have dowels in all the stands? Who sells the rocker stand dowels?

I think the dowels are .250”, just like all the B/RB head dowels, and same as the chain cover dowels.

I thought they are smaller but I did not measure. I just saw that two had them and 3 did not. I will have to measure them in the morning.