[geeteeohguy]

looks like your engine is a WS ??
with a manual transmission??
I had a th400 in a 68 ram rod 350 cutlass that the cooler in the radiator burst
and antifreeze got in my OW? th400 trans and toasted it ,,,, 1983?

My first thought was a blown trans cooler and to check the trans dipstick. Coolant wipes out automatic transmissions.

 

[geeteeohguy]

Do a cylinder leakdown check as well as a compression test. The leakdown test will tell you a lot more.

 

[geeteeohguy]

I agree. Pull the trans dipstick. The foam in the radiator doesn't have to be pink if the trans fluid is older and darker. BTDT.

 

[geeteeohguy]

A pressure test of the cooling system would be a huge help as well. Pump it up to 15 psi and see if it holds overnight. You could have a cracked block or head or blown head gasket.

 

[geeteeohguy]

I agree that the cover is the next thing to check. If you have a smoke tester or can get access to one, you can connect it to the radiator and look to see where the smoke is coming out and save hours of guesswork. In the last 10 years of my job, I couldn't believe how well these detectors worked for finding ANY type of leak.