Help With Coolant Issue

Having a slight issue with my 68 347. Original 289 block with AFR heads.

When racing it, it pushes coolant into the catch can on the first pass, even in the morning when its cool.
It seems to push a set amount and then seems to stabilize and stay at that amount. When I let the car cool down,
it will pull the coolant back into the radiator. However, there is a net loss of coolant, but not via the catch can, it never gets more than 3/4 full. After a day of racing, the level is down below the radiator core tubes.

When driving on the street it doesn't do this. It occasionally will do it when I drive a little more, shall we say, "spirited."

One other symptom. After racing, the next day, there is a half-dollar size spot of coolant on the floor under the car.
It seems to line up with the oil filter; a little too far back to be the water pump or a hose. This doesn't happen when driving on the street.

I do not smell coolant ever and no apparent steam. There is no coolant in the oil.

The car runs strong. Consistent mid twelves. Sounds very healthy. Spark plugs look good as well.

I suspect that under high rpm (shifting at 6K at the track) the head gaskets may leak and possibly suck coolant or force
pressure into the cooling system. However, I do not smell exhaust or fuel in the coolant.

I was thinking of re-torquing my heads. Is this done by first loosening the head bolts or should I just set my torque wrench to the final value and go over each bolt in the proper order?

Any other thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

I had a similar problem a few mothe a go, a leakdown test is your answer.

Balz to the Wall Racing: BTTW Racing

TS Leakdown Instructions

Leakdown Test

I had a tiny leake from the head gasket (cyl 6), the car ran strong, NO over heating, and a standart compression test showd that every thing is OK.

I just notice I'm loosing water, I even spoted a few drops on the garage floor after (in the morning) I thought that this is my problem so I tighten the timing cover bolts (just a bit) and found a tiny leake from the hose and the pump (2 drops) so I tighten the clamps, I thought the problem was solved but after a week I notice the oil breather cap had the goo in it (oil+water), the oil level didn't rise and the dip stick had only clean oil on it (no goo) I drain the oil and could not see any goo so I thought the goo on the breather is just condensation and I still thought it is not the heads\gasket, the compression test was still excellent and no over heating and no change in performance, I even started the car with the radiator cap off to see if there are any bubbles and there was non, but I notice I have to add more and more coolant after every drive, eventually and after a lot of excellent (and supporting) advices from the FM forum members I did the leakdown test and found out a small breach in cyl 6.

Good luck!

Thanks, I think I will eventually need to do a leak-down test. I may first try to re-torque the heads.

I do plan to pull the motor this fall and disassemble and inspect it. I tend to run it pretty hard at the track and I'd like to catch any problems before they get too bad.

Any thoughts on re-torquing the heads? Do I need to loosen all the head bolts first and then torque or can I just re-torque?