flopped

[Peter V.]

Hey guys so bad-ish news. my engine starts now and everything is dandy but it's leaking coolant near where the starter is by. I think it might be a cracked block or blown head gasket. if it's a gasket I guess I'll just replace it even though it'll take me a while, but if it's a cracked block I'm kinda done for right?

 

[Budnicks]

Freeze plug in the head or block maybe {?}

there's exhaust bolts that go into the water jacket too {?}

maybe 2 other possibilities {?}

 

[super-bee_ski]

As Budnicks says...
And:
Are you 100 percent sure it is NOT trickling down from a hose up top?

 

[Grady Cain]

Yes, I second what Budnicks and ski have posted - Please check all the basic stuff first before thinking about the worst possible scenario!

 

[Peter V.]

the bolts that connect the headers to the bloco were also wet with coolant I'll tighten those maybe that's what it was I'll also check the freeze plug and look around from under the engine and transmission area a bit more.I do hope it's just that. and if it isn't there is that thingy blue devil sells that deals blocks and head gaskets

 

[Budnicks]

need hi temp sealant on headers bolts threads when installed,
it helps
unless you have aftermarket or alum. heads with blind holes etc.

there's freeze-plugs in the heads too sides & front/rear
the freeze plugs on the side of the block are sometimes tough,
you take out the starter & headers to easily replace them,
put a thin film of "form a gasket" or silicone on the freeze-plugs,
before installing too
IMO replace with bronze/Brass freeze-plugs,
they'll last longer too & only marginally more $$$

If ones leaking, unfortunately most all could leak "eventually"

-----------------------------------------------------------------

IMO block-sealer or Radiator sealer stuff, isn't great for long term,
but some do work temporally as a band-aide...

good luck & have fun

 

[ws23jrt]

My first thought was a freeze plug like others have said.

Like many problems that come up here --it triggers -- memories from when these cars were daily transport. --I had a very small pin hole in a freeze plug one fine day.

My little story.---A friend and I were on our way to a construction job on a sunday morning.(A double time day). My car is a 68 hemi RR.--
Fifty miles from work I saw my temp gauge go to cold and could not feel heat from the heater. Next was the engine telling me trouble was happening.
A quick mart was ahead and we pulled in to find no coolant.

I was able to find a tiny hole in a freeze plug that was the problem. We shopped for a fix that was napkins and super glue. We troweled a mix of this stuff into the cavity of the freeze plug.
So now we wait--and wait. -- Is It set up enough to add water? ---Miles to go and work to be done?

Thirty min. was when we added water (only). ---No leak.--And we were off with the radiator cap off to prevent any pressure from pushing our fix out of place.

We were two hours late for work and drove home 75 miles with no coolant issues.

I have to add that we were indeed lucky in many ways that day. Only one of which was being able to access that freeze plug leak in a parking lot. Sometimes the sun shines.

 

[PurpleBeeper]

the bolts that connect the headers to the bloco were also wet with coolant I'll tighten those maybe that's what it was I'll also check the freeze plug and look around from under the engine and transmission area a bit more.I do hope it's just that. and if it isn't there is that thingy blue devil sells that deals blocks and head gaskets

I think you're about to get lucky! Some of the header/exhaust manifold go into cooling passages. IF you have bolts (instead of stock studs/nuts), that is most likely your problem. I'm running bolts on the front & back of my heads (the rest are stock studs). I use a good glob of RTV silicone (red or copper) every time I take a header off....no leaks. My engine did that too before I figured it out.