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| | | | Joined: Jan 2020 Posts: 68 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2020 Posts: 68 | I had some work done to the head on my chevy 235 and when I put it back on, I got a coolant leak coming from the second to last bolt on the driver side. I thought my head gasket was bad, but then I thought the threads may be going through the water passages. Is my hunch right, and if so, which bolts need thread sealant? I can I just take them out one at a time add sealant an retorque?
Mike
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,698 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,698 | Some of the bolts do go through the water jacket. I would remove the head and start over using sealant on all the bolts. Better safe than sorry.
Doing it Onesey -Twosey risks warping the head since it won't be torqued in the proper sequence. You also don't know if water has gotten under the head gasket. Do it right.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
| | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,002 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,002 | The head won't warp if you remove that one bolt and reinstall it. If you remove the head, you'll need a new head gasket. If it's not seeping around the gasket, it's likely that doing one bolt will be OK.
FYI, the shop manual calls for removing two head bolts and replacing with lifting eyes for removing and installing the engine, so GM approves of removing at least two head bolts. They should all be retorqued when you're done.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2020 Posts: 68 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2020 Posts: 68 | Some of the bolts allow oil to come up to lubricate the rocker arm assembly, I assume putting thread sealant on the threads will not mess that up because the oil comes up the bolt after the threads start. Is that correct?
Mike
| | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,002 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,002 | Just one bolt is drilled for oil passage, and only on some 235's. It would be the one closest to the rocker oiler assembly. And no, putting thread sealant won't prevent oil from getting thru it.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2020 Posts: 68 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2020 Posts: 68 | Thanks for the help everyone, I will let yall know how it turns out!
Mike
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,749 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,749 | If you decide to use thread sealant, drain the cooling system low enough that the level is below the head bolts. The one bolt with the oil hole in it will be identified by a slot across the head of the bolt, and it fits the center bolt hole on the passenger's side of the block.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
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| | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | FYI, 216’s and 235’s head bolts do not go into the water jacket.
Use oil on the threads, not sealer.
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Jan 2020 Posts: 68 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2020 Posts: 68 | Well, I have an embarrassing update. The problem was not the head at all; I just forgot to tighten the water temp sending unit. It just looked like it was coming from the head. Live and learn.
Mike
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 5,777 Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT | | Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 5,777 | Mike - At least it was a relatively easy find and correction. Thanks for coming back and letting us know. 
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100Follow this story in the DITY Gallery"My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine"1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
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