Insane coolant leak

[mistatwo47]

My father is the owner of an 89 corvette. This is what happened:
He was highway driving and the temp gauge rises. He pulls over and sees coolant leaking. He gets home and closely inspects the leak. Coolant is leaking from above the bell housing and was dripping onto the exhaust pipe. As the car is idling in the garage, the coolant leak worsens, as if someone was pouring out coolant from an open bottle. We couldn't get a top view because the leak was originating from under the windshield part that extends over the engine. He suspects it could be a freeze plug or blown headgasket.

I was wondering if anyone has encountered a similar situation and can offer their input, local referred shops/people to get this taken care of, how much it should cost to pull an engine, etc.

Thanks all.

Randy

 

[taegdh]

His diagnosis is the most probable, freeze plug or head gasket.

IF you have a well stocked garage, it is a two day job to do it right.

A garage will want mucho dinero to do it, and a dealer will basically want your first child.

Lots of luck!

 

[Mart]

Whoa, from above the bellhousing! sounds like it might be the infamous intake rear passenger side intake leak these years are known for.

Do a search for intake coolant leak and you will see what I mean.

Thats what mine was.
Mart

 

[Moonunit 451]

Get a coolant pressure tester and track the leak down. You can borrow rent or buy one from a parts store. Pump iy up to 12-15 lbs with the car cool and not running. You'll find the leak.

 

[rrubel]

Does his year have the coolant line that runs from the heater core hose to the top of the manifold? I took mine to a custom exhaust shop today and had a major coolant leak when I arrived. Popped the hood to find that little hose between the manifold and heater hose had a pinhole leak that was jetting coolant like a tiny firehose.
[RICHR]

 

[89ragtop]

Just went through the same problem with my 89 vette.

Turned out to be the head gasket. The head gasket

was original, 93,000 miles on the car. There is a water

port on the rear upper portion of the head and the gasket

just went. The water was shooting out from between the

head and block. Once you apply pressure to the system

you should be able to tell where it's coming from. I hope,

for your sake, it is the intake and not a head gasket. Took my engine

down to bare block and went through everything. BIG JOB

Good Luck

 

[mistatwo47]

Thanks again! I don't know when he will be fixing car, but we haven't started the car since the end of Spring when the leak happened. There shouldn't be a problem if he lets it sit like that over the winter, right? Well I hope he fixes it soon; he installed a borla stinger exhaust a few months ago and I can't wait to hear how it sounds and performs.