Not sure where to start

[devilgear]

Well last year I took my 73 Charger to fill up on gas and on the short trip home the car started to over heat and when I got home I lifted the hood and saw a squirting stream come from above the headers on the drivers side. Its a 400 ci motor. I knew I had a leak in the car, but I could never really see where it was coming from since it was a small drip. It never over heater, just dripped a bit. I put the car away then since I did not have the money to fix it at the time. Now warmer weather is finally coming and I want to get this dealt with. Not sure where to start with this trouble. Is it a head gasket? Warped head? Header bolts? Any help would be great. Thanks

[JB400]

freeze plug maybe. 

[cudaken]

First step is to do a pressure test. You get a pressure tester at any local auto parts store. Guess would be around $35.00 range. You pressurizes the cooling system and see where the coolant comes out. You can also run the engine warm, after warm up with the gauge installed and if the pressure goes up, it is a bad head or head gasket. There is all so a test strip that will tell you if exhaust gasses are in the coolant. 

Good Luck and my money is on the thread exhaust sleeve.

Cuda Ken 

[fy469rtse]

Freeze plug , steel heads , ? Have you got a bad thermostat maybe , radiator and cooling system could need a good cleaning out flushing, some thing caused it to overheat and pressure built up and found a weak spot to leak

[devilgear]

I'll do a pressure test first then. I'm not sure what a exaust sleve is?

[cudaken]

You might know it has a sleeved nut, if you have stock exhaust manifolds.

Cuda Ken

[devilgear]

I guess I should have said I have Hooker comp headers on it. I really should have taken pics and videos of it leaking when it did. Ugh. Oh well next time I'll know better.

[XH29N0G]

My guess is that you rusted out a freeze plug.  I did this and had (1) overheat and (2) coolant squirting out between the plugs on one side behind the header.  There are two freeze plugs on the side of the head between the exhaust ports.  If you have an issue with one or two rusting out it will be worth looking at the others.  The suggested tests should also allow you to figure out whether this guess is correct. 

[devilgear]

Cool thanks. I'm really hoping its not a gasket or a warped head. I'd like it to be on the road asap.

[XH29N0G]

If it is freeze plugs here is what I can show.

Below is a picture of the stuff that the shop told me to use when changing the freeze plugs.  (The Play Doh is for checking the space between the top of the engine and the hood.)  See if others recommend something else.

There are also pics of the freeze plugs.  There are two on the side and one on each end.  These are 906 heads, but I assume the others are similar.