Well, while investigating my stumbling at idle I noticed some coolant on the passenger side head between the block and the head. It was just a few drops so I looked around for the leak (couldn't find it), wiped it down, and put the car away. The coolant level looked fine. After the car cooled down I checked for more leaking and did not see any. I took the car for a quick spin and parked it. I checked it again (I don't remember if it was right after or after I let it cool down) and there was more coolant by the head. Today I took some pictures, two of which are here:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/memb...us-albums.html

Let me know if there are any issues viewing the album.

I looked around the engine bay and the coolant hoses all look dry, I looked to see if the intake manifold was leaking anywhere and it wasn't, so I'm pretty sure it is the head gasket. It's a bit strange, because it doesn't seem to be leaking between cylinders. It looks like the leak is between the front-most cylinder and the bottom corner of the head. I assume there is a coolant passage in that corner. The photos make it look like it's leaking between the first two cylinders, but in person it looks like the coolant came out from the front of the head and made its way rearward.

I'm planning on doing a compression test this weekend. Any advice or recommendations on head gaskets? Anybody ever see a gasket blow in the corner like that instead of between the cylinders? I've never tried to do a head gasket before, so any advice or heads-up on things that can get hairy on the LT1?

Thanks in advance!

 

I don't think a compression test will show anything. The best thing to do is pressure test the system. This will make the leak more obvious. Head gaskets are pretty straight forward, but you might want to get a service manual if this is your first time.
Get the heads checked for warpage before you put them back on.

 

I had a hard time seeing anything in the pics other than "dirt" stickin' to stuff. If the leak is just a "damp" looking edge of the gasket I wouldn't even mess with it at this point just keep and eye on the area and the fluid level in the radiator/overflow tank and pay attention to the oil color during an oil change....if it gets worse tear it down at that point.

 

Have the heads ever been off the car? In pic #2, it almost looks like the coolant is coming out the head bolt hole. I don't remember if those lower bolts go into the cooling jacket (I always put sealant on them all) or just the upper ones.

 

Yes, the lower row of bolts go into coolant too.

Borrow a cooling system pressure tester from AutoZone or O'Reilly's, etc., pressurize the system and see if/where the leak's coming from.

Jake

West Point ROCKS!

 

I'll second the idea that the coolant is weeping from the lower bolts, thread sealant might be gone by now.

 

Thanks for the responses. I'll see if I can borrow/rent a cooling system pressure tester and give that a shot also. The heads have been off before, the last owner had them worked over and the engine is a 383.

I guess the pictures aren't that good now that I got to take a second look at them.