Thread: head gasket leak?

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I have a 80 z 28 that seems to have coolant leaking down the side of the block. It is a 350 SBC with about 2K miles on it. the leak is very minor. It is coming from the around the center of the head/block side area where the two exhaust ports are for the headers.

The car runs well. Should I try torquing down the head bolts? What damage will it do if I leave it the way it is for now?

Thanks
sanpedro

Originally Posted by sanpedro

I have a 80 z 28 that seems to have coolant leaking down the side of the block. It is a 350 SBC with about 2K miles on it. the leak is very minor. It is coming from the around the center of the head/block side area where the two exhaust ports are for the headers.

The car runs well. Should I try torquing down the head bolts? What damage will it do if I leave it the way it is for now?

Thanks
sanpedro

Do you have oil in the ant-freeze or does you oil look carmel in color,does it puff white steam all the time out the exhaust??

no none of those things, no bubbles in the radiator either. The car runs good

Try torquing the bolts. The trouble with small leaks is, they get big without any warning. Probably require a new gasket.

I will give it a shot but most likely I thnk I will need to replace the head gasket. Just really dont want to mess with it now. Thats life

thanks for your input!

Anybody else want to put their 2 cents in?

Are you sure it's the head and not a freeze plug?

I suggest to resurface the heads to stop the leak.