Thread: Leaking head bolts

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Hi all I have a 350 sbc it has Trick Flow alloy heads and ARP screw in head studs. The problem that I have is coolant is leaking from 2 of the head studs. Can I remove them to put more/better sealant on them with out taking off the heads and replacing the head gaskets ?
If I can do this would it be better if the engine were cold or hot.
P.S It is only 1 bolt on each of the heads just below the headers and they only seem to leak when the motor is cold.
Cheers

The problem you may run into trying to take out one stud on either side is the threads. The end of the stud with the threads just may not pull out the hole in the head. The threaded end may be slightly bigger preventing you from taking it out.
Plus you should totally drain the cooling system cause you definitely have a stud in the water jacket. After you get it drained, you still may not have all the coolant out of those holes and if they are still wet from the coolant, you won't get any sealer to stick and stop the leaking.

yep they should come out drain block first then clean studs good .on a wet studs i allway s put some alum dust sealer in a new build .i would try that first .ARP sealer is not good for wet studs

Gorilla snot on a washer!

Originally Posted by R Pope

Gorilla snot on a washer!

I'm fresh out of gorilla snot.
Dang it !

Originally Posted by sunsetdart

The problem you may run into trying to take out one stud on either side is the threads. The end of the stud with the threads just may not pull out the hole in the head. The threaded end may be slightly bigger preventing you from taking it out.
Plus you should totally drain the cooling system cause you definitely have a stud in the water jacket. After you get it drained, you still may not have all the coolant out of those holes and if they are still wet from the coolant, you won't get any sealer to stick and stop the leaking.

I was more worried about the head gasket becoming unsealed.
I thought that I would syphon the coolant out through the bolt hole once it was removed. Then spray some contact cleaner down the hole to dry it off.
I normally use GM thread sealer. It has never let me down before.