New Head Gasket Seeps Antifreeze

Posted by Andy Mylin On 2014/12/30 15:31:04

I was hoping to get some input about my 1954 Packard. I'm in the process of putting the engine back together after being rebuilt. It's a 359 with a 288/327 head. I did not have the head "checked" but visually it looks fine.

I assembled the head with a new gasket, copper side up, onto the block using the original head bolts. I did have new washers made that are taller (about the height of three of the original washers since the cast head is shorter than the original aluminum) I torced the head to 62lbs with two different wrenches in case one was off in the pattern described in the manual.

With all that done I filled the engine with fluids and before I got around to trying to start it the head began to seep antifreeze around the perimeter of the block and at a few of the nuts on top. Instead of going any further I pulled everything back off revealing antifreeze in cylinders 4, 7 & 8.

So the antifreeze is cleaned up but any idea what I might need to do differently? A friend mentioned replacing the head bolts?

Thanks for your time.
Andy