Has this ever happened to you?

[Don Jordan]

I had my engine rebuilt and now that the weather is nice I'm working on it. Putting all the stuff back together - trying to remember where things go.

I put water in and made a new set of plug wires. I was getting ready to crank it over when I noticed water filling in at the number one plug. I could not figure where it was coming from. After careful examination I saw water coming out of the bolt that holds the thermostat cover. My next door mentor said the water was coming up through the bolt threads. I put a washer on the bolt and tightened it down. No change. My friend said to put gasket sealer on the bolt threads and put it in. Is this a normal occurrence?

I'm letting it sit tonight and dry out. I will deal with it tomorrow.

thanks.

[daddyo23]

Some of the head bolts go in water, too. You can use "plumbers paste", the white stuff in the little jar from Ace to coat the threads and it will fix it.

[TodFitch]

Sounds like you have a pretty good "next door mentor".

[Don Jordan]

He is the greatest. Retired aerospace engineer. Ex dune buggy racer. I was thinking of moving but he's too valuable a resource. What a great friend.

[Joe Flanagan]

I had the same problem. Two of the three rows of head bolts penetrate the water jacket, as do the ones that hold down the thermostat housing and a few that attach the timing chain cover. I used plumber's paste. After running the engine for a while I developed a few leaks and just had to tighten things down a bit.