JERSEYJOE
06-29-2008, 04:30 PM
Well there I was. Just installed a rebuilt 360 in my CJ. Also swapped in a T-18 and a Scout Dana 300. Today I was planning on starting it for the first time. The last thing I normally do is fill the cooling system. What I do is fill the engine through the thermostat opening, then install the thermostat, housing and fill the rest of the cooling system. As I was priming the oiling system my buddy yelled " HEY YOU HAVE A COOLANT LEAK". Sure enough there was a drip from both sides of the block toward the rear. Very small drip but still a leak. It's a horrible feeling. My mind raced: I had the heads rebuilt and they were surfaced, but the block was not decked, but it was fine. I have done this before. I always use copper coat on the head gaskets and seal the lower ( short ) head bolts.
Any way I continued on, installed the distributor and it actually started after about 20 seconds of cranking. Ran fine. I set the timing and let it sit on high idle. Still the drips from both sides of the motor. Now I am beside myself. Sunday afternoon after a long project and I am faced with this.
I don't know why I looked but as I reved the motor I looked at the space on top of the timing cover below the distributor and there was green coolant. I then looked at the space where the intake meets the head on the front left, as I reved the motor green fluid spit out.
THE SOLUTION
I had purchased aftermarket intake bolts to use with my Edelbrock Performer. the bolts are too long and were bottoming out in the head giving a good torque reading but not allowing a tight seal. I pirated a set of bolt off another 360 I had and installed them.
LEAK GONE.
So beware . I looked at the tip of the bolts and sure enough the first thread was shiny, proof that it was indeed bottoming out. I have been screwing with AMC motors since my first AMX in 1975 and I thought I knew it all.
Any way I continued on, installed the distributor and it actually started after about 20 seconds of cranking. Ran fine. I set the timing and let it sit on high idle. Still the drips from both sides of the motor. Now I am beside myself. Sunday afternoon after a long project and I am faced with this.
I don't know why I looked but as I reved the motor I looked at the space on top of the timing cover below the distributor and there was green coolant. I then looked at the space where the intake meets the head on the front left, as I reved the motor green fluid spit out.
THE SOLUTION
I had purchased aftermarket intake bolts to use with my Edelbrock Performer. the bolts are too long and were bottoming out in the head giving a good torque reading but not allowing a tight seal. I pirated a set of bolt off another 360 I had and installed them.
LEAK GONE.
So beware . I looked at the tip of the bolts and sure enough the first thread was shiny, proof that it was indeed bottoming out. I have been screwing with AMC motors since my first AMX in 1975 and I thought I knew it all.
