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Old May 2, 2008 | 07:05 AM
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swickg331
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From: Piedmont, WV
leaking head gasket

Anyone ever had any issues using 70 351W heads on a 302? I just built the engine it ran for maybe 30 seconds and started leaking coolant from driver's side head at the rear of the head. I used fel-pro gaskets and torqued everything to the 302 specs. I'll be pulling the head this weekend to try to find out what went wrong
 
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Old May 2, 2008 | 12:24 PM
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check the little round tubes that line up the heads to the block might be to long.. also if the lower bolt holes go into water you should use thread sealer on the bolts...
 
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Old May 6, 2008 | 05:29 PM
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swickg331
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changed the head gaskets this weekend and replaced the locating dowels.
Started the engine and ran it for about 10 seconds before the head gasket on the #8 cylinder blew out once again!! This is going to drive me nuts.
 
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Old May 7, 2008 | 04:07 AM
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did you have the heads magnafluxed? and milled?

what year 302?
do the lower bolt holes go into water?
did you use thread sealer?
did you replace the freeze plugs on the end of the heads?
what did you torque the bolts to?
 
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Old May 7, 2008 | 12:08 PM
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swickg331
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Yes the heads were totally redone. new valves, seals, freeze plugs, springs, shaved, etc...

The block is a 93. Yes I used thread sealer and I torqued the bolts to 70ft lbs.
 
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Old May 7, 2008 | 04:43 PM
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Did you clean out the bolt holes. I have seen blocks with a bunch of crap in the holes keeping the bolts from making a good torque on the head...
also the 351 head have a different cooling passage then the 302, the intake might not be making a good seal. Can you see right where it is leaking? I use the felpro 1250 gaskets they cover all the sbf cooling passages.

also you want to torque the upper bolts a little more say 15 more pounds.. they are longer
one more thing I thought of, are you using the cork end seals on the intake, they have a tendence of lifting the heads just a little if there is not enough clearance. I use permatex on the end seals...

just trying to help hope I don't sound crazy, this is all chit I have ran into in the past.
 
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Old May 12, 2008 | 05:07 PM
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Got the problem fixed....it was man behind wrench (me) had head up ***. I had a heater hose in a vacuum port, which went directly to the #8 cylinder. All back together and running now. Just a little tuning on the carb and I'll be done. Got any tips for dialing in the electric choke? Thanks for the suggestions
 
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