I removed my headers to send them out for ceramic coating and when I removed the bolt closest to the firewall on the driver's side I got a coolant leak. The motor was rebuilt less than 3,000 miles ago and new World iron heads were installed. During assembly the speed shop that built the motor ported and polished the heads. Is it possible that when the header bolt was installed or retightened it caused the coolant passage to leak into the bolt threads? Other ideas of what may have caused this and possible solutions would be much appreciated. Also no signs of coolant in the oil or exhaust. I does appear that the leak was happening prior to removing the header bolt but I never could tell where the source was or what it was that was leaking. Thanks for your feedback.
Mike

 

I wonder if during the porting they took little to much material off causing the walls to become weak and eventually causing the leak. I could be wrong but that sounds like the best possible answer to me.

 

Using too long of a bolt also has a tendancy to punch through the back of the hole into the water jacket.

 

If it were my motor I would be parking the car and pulling the heads to check out what is going on. You may find more to the problem. Otherwise when you re-install the boltadd some RTV black.

 

I agree that something is wrong here and needs further investigation, could be a crack.

 

Got a chance to investigate this a little today and get a good look at the situation. I have not one but two places where coolant jackets have been leaking into the bolt threads. Driver side closest to firewall and Passenger closest to the front of motor. I added coolant and took some pictures.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...1&d=1329080012 https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...1&d=1329080012

 

Interesting since those are the same places on the cylinder head... Since they're reversed on each side....

So it's the same spot in the casting that's having this problem. I would ask the cylinder head manufacturer about it. Not that it's their fault, but they could be helpful in determining the cause.

 

I have been in touch with the World Products, the manufacture of the SR/Torquer heads that are on the motor and I have been told that they have never had this problem with the head. So far they are working with me to determine the problem and the fix. I will keep you posted.