Well after months upon months of my car being on the jackstands in my garage...I finally accomplished the finishing touches to my rebuild tonight. New parts included but not limited to: new oem pistons, rings, mls headgasket, af/x udp, mechanical tbelt tensioner conversion, vc gasket set, and whatever else I'm forgetting. Well...the time eventually came to start the car. Idle was good, tbelt seemed alright as it was running. Checked for leaks, none. After a few minutes or so, checked under the car again...wtf coolant leaking from back of block. I was pretty sure I got the headgasket on right, and everything was torqued to spec. Definitely seems to be the hg, as I can actually see some of it exposed on the rear driver side of the block. It's like it was all good at first or what not, then it just expanded or somethin to that sort and started leaking. Definitely not the christmas present I was looking forward to...guess I'm still not gonna be able to remove those jack stands.....hmm

:shrug

Sounds like it. :(

As often as my HGs seem to pop or leak, I hav just started taking pictures of them before I put the head back on. I figure it's only insurance. :P

I was so excited my car was running...no oil leaks, no sputtering, no cel's, it was great. What could have caused this, does it happen often. I've researched like crazy, and the only thing I really came up with was the infamous oil leak from back there. I wouldn't be too pissed, but I've gotta pay for another hg, and rip it all apart again...timing was a pain in my arse.

anymore comments/suggestions?

Aside from installing the HG the wrong way, if the head surface isn't machined for the new gasket, you can lose the new gasket pretty quick. Last time I did mine was in July (hottest damn day thereof - 116* @ 43%). I had no other car available to get the head to the shop. Also had no money or downtime to do so. I just pulled the head, cleaned things up as best I could and installed a set of ARPs when I put things back together. She was leaking within two weeks.

This time, I take it down and do it right. No more half-ass shit. I hope your issue is a half-ass issue. They seem to be easy to fix. Don't really require troubleshooting. :P

http://az2gnt.net/DR1665/Daisy/420A/hg+arp072505.JP G

EDIT:
Someone might even look at my image above and tell me I installed mine backwards or something. :shrug

Dude? There's supposed to be a little overhang on the back.

You may still have it installed incorrectly, but i'd start looking at the freeze plugs, the 3/8ths NPT coolant plug on the back, and the heater hoses unless for can accurately verify that its leaking from the HG. Any fluids mixing?

I'd use brakecleener or something cause it dries quickly and will remove anything on the block. Then start the car and sit under it with a light and watch.

I would not pull the head before I verified where it was leaking from as dino said.

Originally posted by Blizare
I'd use brakecleener or something cause it dries quickly and will remove anything on the block. Then start the car and sit under it with a light and watch. I would not pull the head before I verified where it was leaking from as dino said.

2x don't want to do all the work again only to have the same issue. Definately check to MAKE SURE it's the head gasket before tearing everything down again.

hmm, it sure seemed like it was comin from there...but definitely won't hurt to check it out again. couldn't quite tell with the exhaust goin, but it kinda sounded like I heard a lil hissing or something of the sort from where it was leaking I'll bet. Won't know for sure until I get back in the garage after work. Thanks for the ideas, I'll be posting my update in a few hrs.

are you sure it is antifreeze and not oil? looks like oil to me. Also it looks like it is comming from above your intake manifold. (valvecover gasket maybe?)

It was green brand new that I had just put in maybe 15 minutes earlier. It wasn't full up to the neck when I filled the coolant, but would that really matter considering the car maybe ran for 5 minutes? Didn't get to mess with it last night, but will definitely find out where it's coming from today.

UPDATE: car just ran for 10 minutes or so...no leak :wary It just idled the whole time, I'll actually rev it up some when I head back out there in a bit. I know it's not full of coolant right now, is it really bad to start the car on and off every now and then, and letting it run for little while as I've been doing? :scratch

Originally posted by XMasta19
UPDATE: car just ran for 10 minutes or so...no leak :wary It just idled the whole time, I'll actually rev it up some when I head back out there in a bit. I know it's not full of coolant right now, is it really bad to start the car on and off every now and then, and letting it run for little while as I've been doing? :scratch

Ran for another 10 minutes or so, revved up here and there...still no leak. Could it have leaked just due to the headgasket expanding or somethin, or is it not leaking anymore because the coolant system isn't full? Anywho, I think it's time to change the oil and the filter now, and get some more coolant.

Any ideas? :wallbash

IT'S ALIVE!!!!!

Well, filled up on coolant today then let it run for awhile...no leak. Changed the oil and filter, then dropped down from the jackstands in which it's sat over the past 4 months or so. Took it out and it drove great...did a lot of engine braking and oh yeah, some e-braking on the ice too :D Not sure what exactly was the deal with that coolant leak, but it seems to be all good for now. Still got some minor issues to work out, but I'm definitely happy so far. All I gotta do now is just keep myself from hooking up the actuator arm to the flapper for "break-in" purposes :evilgrin

glad you are up and running again. tell us how long those pistons hold up.
about your "leak" did you spill alittle coolant while filling it up? could have ran back there and looked like a leak. good luck dsm brother.

boost it when your braking it in. I did and I have perfect 200psi across. A few psi isn't going to hurt, just help imo.

yeah dude. boost it. i don't know if you remember my rebuild story. but i had my car running for like 1 day and had to drive from agusta ga to this hell hole here in mo know as fort leonard wood. i drove at 8 psi the whole trip. most of the trip was on vac but i did boost it a few times. not hard pulls but it didn't hurt anything.

I gotta figure out this damn wastegate first lol...I think I might have to mod it if I can't get it down to 7-8psi....it's all good though, cuz I need to dig out the studded tires and winter chrome rims before boost would even do anything but make it harder to leave a stop sign :D

Hows that Mechanical Tensioner working out? Glad to hear that theres no leak and congrates on the rebuild man. Il be parking mine shortly for my cracked head after 2 months :)

Dirk

Ouch, you need to be sure you're boosting under 9psi on OEM pistons. Theres no room for mistakes/testing with wastegate settings. Anyhow... I boosted my motor after 50 miles after much debating on babying it. I should have boosted after the first "safe" drive.