I just put a old targetmaster motor in my project and noticed antifreeze under it. It is dripping out of one of my header collectors. Figure a crack in the head, but where? I know nothing about the motor, just bought it from a friend. Should I dump some block sealer in it?
Forgive me for sounding dumb, but if I pressure test it and it continues to leak, then what. I am trying to get this car ready for sale.
The pressure test is to find where it is leaking,if it is coming from the header, try removing the header to see if it is coming from the exhaust port
The best thing to do is to pull header and see which hole is coming out of and pull that head an check for blown gasket, or cracked head. If it was mine i would have the head checked anyway whether i was sellin or not.
True and a head gasket and intake gasket doesn't cost much. Heads are inexpensive and easy to find for those engines (just about any 350 head with the same size valves and spark plug holes. The plug holes are important because you don't want one style of plug on one head and the other on the other head.
If you have water coming out of the exhaust port while pressure testing the cooling system, You either have blown head gasket, and/or bad exhaust valve guide. I had the same problem but mine was a big block. hope this helps, good luck.
You sure it's coming out from inside the header? Not outside or around it? I've never seen a head gasket leak so much that it would get into the cylinder, past the exhaust valve and out the header, and not be obvious when the engine was running, or hydraulic when starting. If you pop the radiator cap when it's running does it blow out the radiator? I'd check the freeze plugs, the intake manifold at front and rear first.
If it was mine I would unhook the header at the head and wipe everything good and clean . Now pressure test and see what you find out . It can be a bad head gasket or a bad head gasket caused by a cracked head . Have you checked your oil stick for the famous baby shit color oil yet or any water drops on the stick ? If you see it leaking in the gasket area it's either the head gasket or head . If you see it coming out the exhaust post then you know you have a cracked head . Either way I would check the head gasket over very well and look the head over very well too with a strong magnifier. Also check the head to see if it's straight with a metal straight edge and use a feeler gauge to see if you have a gap . You might need a head shaved . Those are the things I would do to correct the problem . Hope it's just a shitty head gasket ! What ever you do NEVER EVER use a sealer on a head gasket leak ! Retro Jim
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