The Ford Barn

lakeside · 10-04-2015, 05:39 PM

Just torqued the head on the A when engine was cold and again when warm. After 50-100 miles noticed one of the head bolts was wet. Not damp but definetly soaked. Should I re torque again or see if the nut somehow loosened? Thanks.

TinCup · 10-04-2015, 05:48 PM

What is different? New Head? New Gasket?

When I have seen this it is usually associated with a cracked head. It can also indicate where someone has drilled a stud out and gone to far.

Should have torqued the head and then ran it up to temp and then re torqued when cold. Check again for torque and see what you get. If it is a seeping stud I have used peramtex on the threads and has worked.

1931 flamingo · 10-04-2015, 06:18 PM

Before you panic. Re-torque the head a couple of more times. Nothing to lose

FWIW
Paul in CT

jm29henry · 10-04-2015, 06:30 PM

I have also used permatex on the stud and never had any more problems

lakeside · 10-04-2015, 06:36 PM

Old head, old gasket. I was having a leak in the head right where the engine I.D. tag is. I re torqued to see if that would stop the leak since I had recently bought the car and knew if hadn't been driven much in years.That didn't stop it so added some IRONTITE GASKET SEALER but that didn't help. I know it should have a new resurfaced head and new gasket. This head bolt leak is a recent development.

lakeside · 10-04-2015, 06:37 PM

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Your right. I'm trying not to panic. Thanks.

fredski · 10-04-2015, 09:29 PM

If you have antifreeze in the cooling system , drain it and use straight water.
Should leak less and in time maybe stop. Rust is a great sealer.

Fredski

Tom Wesenberg · 10-05-2015, 02:22 AM

But rust is also great for wearing the shaft, bushings, and lead packings.
I'd rather try Bars Leak, or some such sealer.

James Rogers · 10-05-2015, 05:03 AM

Always torque the head COLD. You will get a false reading when it is warm or hot. Just like adjusting valves, always cold.
If you continue to have a leak, remove that nut and wrap dental floss around the bolt at head level and replace the nut.

John Stone · 10-05-2015, 08:16 AM

Have seen that on newly rebuilt engines. Believe the coolant is wicking thru the soft inner material of the head gasket. Suggest they add a half tube of Alumnaseal or Silver Seal and run it for a while. Block or head are not cracked. Must be the quality of the new head gaskets.

Bruce Adams · 10-05-2015, 08:21 AM

Have you tried some BARS LEAK - HEAD SEALANT?
also
My engine rebuilder uses ATV when doing studs. Will the stud unscrew? Use thin "Set nuts" to unscrew a stud if "doable" without putting intense pressure on it since you do not want to break it.

lakeside · 10-05-2015, 09:36 AM

Thanks for all the replies! Any other ideas,let me know.

10-04-2015, 05:39 PM	#1
lakeside Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 134	head boltleak Just torqued the head on the A when engine was cold and again when warm. After 50-100 miles noticed one of the head bolts was wet. Not damp but definetly soaked. Should I re torque again or see if the nut somehow loosened? Thanks.

10-04-2015, 05:48 PM	#2
TinCup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: OKC / Tonkawa, Ok. Posts: 1,977	Re: head boltleak What is different? New Head? New Gasket? When I have seen this it is usually associated with a cracked head. It can also indicate where someone has drilled a stud out and gone to far. Should have torqued the head and then ran it up to temp and then re torqued when cold. Check again for torque and see what you get. If it is a seeping stud I have used peramtex on the threads and has worked. __________________ Oklahoma City Model A Restorers Group.

10-04-2015, 06:18 PM	#3
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,428	Re: head boltleak Before you panic. Re-torque the head a couple of more times. Nothing to lose FWIW Paul in CT

10-04-2015, 06:30 PM	#4
jm29henry Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: michigan Posts: 1,138	Re: head boltleak I have also used permatex on the stud and never had any more problems

10-04-2015, 06:36 PM	#5
lakeside Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 134	Re: head boltleak Old head, old gasket. I was having a leak in the head right where the engine I.D. tag is. I re torqued to see if that would stop the leak since I had recently bought the car and knew if hadn't been driven much in years.That didn't stop it so added some IRONTITE GASKET SEALER but that didn't help. I know it should have a new resurfaced head and new gasket. This head bolt leak is a recent development.

10-04-2015, 06:37 PM	#6
lakeside Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 134	Re: head boltleak Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Your right. I'm trying not to panic. Thanks.

10-04-2015, 09:29 PM	#7
fredski Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: morrisburg ontario Posts: 349	Re: head boltleak If you have antifreeze in the cooling system , drain it and use straight water. Should leak less and in time maybe stop. Rust is a great sealer. Fredski

10-05-2015, 02:22 AM	#8
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: head boltleak But rust is also great for wearing the shaft, bushings, and lead packings. I'd rather try Bars Leak, or some such sealer.

10-05-2015, 05:03 AM	#9
James Rogers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 3,104	Re: head boltleak Always torque the head COLD. You will get a false reading when it is warm or hot. Just like adjusting valves, always cold. If you continue to have a leak, remove that nut and wrap dental floss around the bolt at head level and replace the nut. __________________ http://www.model-a-ford-4bangers.com/

10-05-2015, 08:16 AM	#10
John Stone Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 710	Re: head boltleak Have seen that on newly rebuilt engines. Believe the coolant is wicking thru the soft inner material of the head gasket. Suggest they add a half tube of Alumnaseal or Silver Seal and run it for a while. Block or head are not cracked. Must be the quality of the new head gaskets.

10-05-2015, 08:21 AM	#11
Bruce Adams Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northport, NY Posts: 1,597	Re: head boltleak Have you tried some BARS LEAK - HEAD SEALANT? also My engine rebuilder uses ATV when doing studs. Will the stud unscrew? Use thin "Set nuts" to unscrew a stud if "doable" without putting intense pressure on it since you do not want to break it.

10-05-2015, 09:36 AM	#12
lakeside Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 134	Re: head boltleak Thanks for all the replies! Any other ideas,let me know.