My 305TBI has about 128k miles on it. It has been using a lot of coolant, and pulls some coolant through on cold startup. But recently when I get on it, you can smell it and now when I park it there is a good amount of coolant pooling through the tailpipes. It also seems like there is a leak near the radiator, either that or coolant is getting on that too. I am guessing I have two problems, maybe a radiator/hose issue but also a bigger problem which I am guessing is a head gasket or valve seal problem?

Ive been debating dropping another motor in for a while, ive also though if I take the heads off why not put some better heads on. Pros/cons for this? I know it would work better with tuning, but I wont have that initially. Suggestions for heads if this idea looks ok?

Overall thoughts on these problems?

 

sounds like a head gasket or cracked head. valve seats wont have anything to do with the cooling system. sounds like a good time for a head/cam package. but make sure you know whats wrong before you go replaceing parts.

 

yeah I guess I need to see whats wrong, I just wanted to have a plan in place before I started taking things apart so I dont have a lot of downtime -- the car runs now I can drive it around and move it, once I get into it wont.

 

a head gasket should only take about a weekend. unless the head is cracked then you'll have to get a new one. worse comes to worse hit up the junkyard and pull a head off another camaro. or do some research and see what better heads you can get off a car at the junkyard.