how to seal coolant leak

[67rcks]

I am looking for the best way to seal internal leak on my 302. This is my 3rd try (and will be 3rd oil change while driving 0 miles), yet coolant has always found its way to the oil pan (I can smell coolant in it). This leak must have gone through either timing cover/block passage, or through intake manifol&head passage (or elsewhere assuming head+block has no cracks?)

I am thinking about using permatex instead of pre-cut gasket for the timing cover. Do you think it is OK to use grey permatex without gasket? I understand this RTV is stronger than regular blue RTV (fails at 340 psi vs. 230 psi).

 

[GDTrumbo]

I had a very similar issue years ago with a 302 block with 289 heads in a '66 Coupe. I added an Edelbrock alum. intake and had found coolant in the oil. I tried 3 times with 289 intake gaskets and once with the 302 intake gaskets to no avail. I ended up putting the OEM 4bbl intake back on. Problem resolved. To this day I don't know what was causing it.

It irritated the crap out of me. I don't know if this really helps but I thought I'd throw it out there. Maybe someone that has conqered this
issue will chime in.

Good Luck, GT

 

[tx65coupe]

I have Permatex RTV gasket maker between the aluminum intake and the block. It works fine, so maybe he is on to something.

 

[rbohm]

if you have installed an aluminum intake, the issue might be at the coolant transfer ports. here is how i install aluminum intakes on small block fords, and i have yet to have a leak;

first i pitch the cork end gaskets
i put a thin coat of rtv on both sides of the coolant ports on the intake gasket
once the gaskets are in place, i run a bead of rtv where the cork gaskets go
i gently put the intake in place, and verify that the gaskets have not moved during the install
when i torque the bolts down, i start by torquing the corners in a criss cross pattern to 25ft/lbs, and then work inside out in the stock ford pattern. i then go back over the bolts torquing them to 30ft/lbs again starting with the corners, and then going to the stock ford pattern.