Re: The big coolant disaster. HELP!

Posted by Dave Merrick On 2010/11/21 13:15:19

Well, the new stud is in.
Thanks to everyone for your help!
I ended up using a heli-coil and high-temp thread sealant.

Special thanks to Fred for the help, I'm sorry I didn't order this time from you, Max M. is about 40 minutes from my house and I like to keep business local to help the local economy whenever I can. I do have A list of stuff I will be getting from you next year though.

I've sent the manifolds in to have them blasted to a relatively new business in town, Hot Rods and Chrome. I was very ecstatic to see that they have their own spray booth.
They said middle of the week expected turn-around for about 20-25 bucks. Not a bad deal. That also lets the thread sealant cure for it's full 72 hours. I think I'm also going to have the manifold faces milled. I'm assuming the best way to do this is line them up as best as possible and have them milled together as one piece?

I did do the grease on the tap trick and it worked like a charm. I cleaned and re-greased about every 3/4 turn.

One interesting thing I noticed is that the manifold gaskets were put on inside-out. In the Packard manual it said the steel indented side faced the manifold and the asbestos went toward the block. Mine was reverse. The new gaskets I ordered don't have a steel side and I'm not sure which end goes in and which goes out.

I also ordered new valve cover gaskets. and found more butchery. Someone re-used the gaskets and used black RTV to fill the gaps. That was a fun clean-up. Another question, what's the purpose of the vent pipe on the rear valve cover?