Head stud Question

[ALMOSTFINISHED]

I just finished my h/c/i install using arp head studs. I cleaned the heads along with the deck to near mirror finish, then put sealer on the lower head studs, installed them snug as told, then torqued the heads down in sequence and steps stopping at 85 lbs. Finished the car up today, filled it up with fluids then took it for a ride, I popped the hood and saw the lower head stud on each side is seaping coolant. It looks like its coming up the threads some how? Is there any way to fix this without pulling the heads or am I doing a h/g swap already. Its not the head gasket leaking, its coming from the head studs. I also used a thread chaser on the block to clean any debri out. Any help is great.

Nick

 

[TheBocSez]

I have read that people pour a can of stop leak in the radiator and that seals them right up.

 

[ALMOSTFINISHED]

I actually read that too. I'm not going behind Stangnets back or anything but I was on Corral before and read up on this issue. Aparently it is somewhat common for the head studs to leak this way because of the way the threads are cut on the studs compared to the bolts. I read that you can take them out one by one and reseal them with rtv black or blue. There are other ways to reseal them, I won't go in and type them all but I just wanted to give a heads up on this problem if anyone has it in the future. Hopefully I can seal these up, and set my idle- its a yatch with the tfs stage 1. Thanks for the info.

Nick

 

[Rick 91GT]

Unfortunatly this seems to be common due t the sharpness of the threads and condition of the stock holes. I actaully run the threads over with a piece of emory cloth first, and had had good success getting the teflon sealer to work. ARP also told me to run some alumaseal through which I think is a band aid.

I have been using the Permatex and the Teflon with out issues, I also started putting a little teflon on the upper threads as well.

You can drain the coolant system down and pull each stud out individually that is leaking and re-seal it.

 

[ALMOSTFINISHED]

Awesome, thank you Rick very much for posting. Its good news to hear coming from an engine builder (you). I'll chip away at this during the week. I got very concerned when I ran the engine and saw the trickles of coolant. I thought it was gonna be a h/g swap all over again. Thanks again for the help with everything...

Nick