[gabehausmann]

I saw a green puddle under my 65 Malibu today. Have >5 hours in total run time since full rebuild. I watched the drip seep from around the bolt holding the block to the mount, onto the frame mount bolt, and then on to the sway bar...Eventually ending up on the floor....I am slightly agitated and some Feedback would be appreciated. Thanks. Gabe

 

[Dave427]

You need to remove the motor mount bolt to make sure its the cause of your coolant leak.
Hopefully you didn't use too long of a bolt and bottomed out the thread and cracked something, probably not?
Its a patch if thats where its coming from it to drain the coolant pass that point clean everything up and put some tephlon paste on the motor mount bolt and re-install.

Dave

 

[BillsCamino]

Isn't there a freeze plug behind that motor mount?

 

[Philip]

Loosen or remove that bolt. If there is flow out of the hole you will need to seal the threads. Like Dave stated to long of a bolt run in impact could have cracked the block.

 

[d1_bradley]

There is a core plug under your mount on the side of the block. I'm guessing that's the source of the leak. Could also be a LONG bolt holding the mount (could crack into water jacket) but not likely. Support the engine and remove the mount, you'll probably see evidence around core plug.

You can see the 'hole' here:

 

[gabehausmann]

Bolts are exactly the same length as original, except Grade 8... I wadded paper up and stuffed it into the plug recess. Going back out in a few to check it out. I am also worried about the fluid possibly coming from under the head...............

 

[lrdvdr41]

It's from the freze plug. I'd bet a million dollars on it.

 

[gabehausmann]

Thanks for all the help guys, but alas, The paper towel wedged into the frost plug came back dry. Pulled off the passenger side exhaust header and ran a fresh towel under the cylinder head..Yup..It was wet. I know where it is coming from now, but why would it start to drip now after I finished the cam break in? Why didn't it start dripping right away??

 

[Doug Garland]

It's called Murphy's law. Nothing happens when you have it out.

 

[70-SS454]

Freeze plug would be my guess....What's the age of the engine? (PS if you use BRASS freeze plugs they'll last 100 years...)

 

[gabehausmann]

Well, it is the original block cast in 1965. The heads are brand new 64 cc's and the block is Bored 40 over, magnafluxed and align honed for the 327 crank...Built myself a little 307 stroker. Used the brass plugs... I spent too much money keeping this dirty little "283" secret...Just picked up a new gasket kit...I'll repost later!! Thanks guys...

 

[Tom Mobley]

so you decided it was coming from between the block and head? This would be extremely unusual unless you're running a steel shim gasket on used block and head surfaces.

if I were you I'd try the fluorescent dye thing before tearing down the engine.

 

[gabehausmann]

Second and third opinions confirmed coolant from between the head and the block. Heads are new, block was dipped and cleaned. It shone like a new penny when I started putting her back together. I dunno, but thats where I'm at...

 

[Tom Mobley]

what gaskets did you use? IMO you want the blue Fel-Pro teflon coated. I've used these things a couple hundred times with no issues. I've even re-used them in emergency situations and got away clean.

You will need to verify that you don't have some physical interference problem like too long dowel pins or head bolts bottoming out in the block. Sometimes there can be pitting around the water transfer holes in the deck, I've seen a couple of these bad enough to leak.

 

[Dave427]

Gabe like Tom mentioned doubt its leaking at the head/block.
Look higher at your intake coolant can find its path down between the block and the heads,

Dave

 

[d1_bradley]

If you change gaskets, be SURE to use a thread sealer on the head bolts..............

 

[gabehausmann]

Still not 100 % sure where the coolant was coming from... Intake came off, the gasket was soaking wet and shredded as it came apart, heads came off, and those gaskets were the same story. I have never seen gaskets do that before.. Went with the blue Fel Pro set.
Drained the pan and pulled the filter...Oil, gas and coolant in the pan, so that tells me there was a huge problem waiting down the road.... Changed the oil, ran it for 5 minutes, drained it again.... I am hoping I didn't burn a bearing.....

 

[Philip]

Were the gaskets wet on both sides or just the passenger side? Was there coolant in the lifter galley?

 

[gabehausmann]

Both sides were soggy. The paper was was falling off the metal in ragged pieces.... It was the same for intake set, as well. There was some coolant on top of the # 3 and 5 pistons...

 

[Tom Mobley]

>>> The paper was was falling off the metal in ragged pieces..

this was on the head gaskets? got any pics? wow.

were the head bolts tight?