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nkaminar · 09-13-2024, 05:58 AM

Dan,

In post #8 you mentioned a couple things that I thought I should comment on.

One was the leaking head bolt. Related to that is the need to check the head bolt torques. The sequence doesn't matter as much as bringing the torque up to 55 foot-pounds in increments of 10 foot-pounds. If they haven't been tightened in a while you may want to start at 25 foot-pounds, then 35, 45, and finally 55. You don't need to back off the torque. To fix a leaky head bolt, remove the stud and re install with gasket cement. Drain the coolant down to below the engine level before doing so.

The other was the copper head gasket. If your head and block are perfectly flat that will work OK, but others have reported better luck with the Best brand graphite gasket and the copper spray gasket cement. If you remove and reinstall the head, re torque the head on a cold engine after the initial warm up, after 100 miles, and after 1,000 miles. And bring the torque up to 55 foot-pounds in increments as above.

09-13-2024, 05:58 AM	#11
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,855	Re: Back in the game Dan, In post #8 you mentioned a couple things that I thought I should comment on. One was the leaking head bolt. Related to that is the need to check the head bolt torques. The sequence doesn't matter as much as bringing the torque up to 55 foot-pounds in increments of 10 foot-pounds. If they haven't been tightened in a while you may want to start at 25 foot-pounds, then 35, 45, and finally 55. You don't need to back off the torque. To fix a leaky head bolt, remove the stud and re install with gasket cement. Drain the coolant down to below the engine level before doing so. The other was the copper head gasket. If your head and block are perfectly flat that will work OK, but others have reported better luck with the Best brand graphite gasket and the copper spray gasket cement. If you remove and reinstall the head, re torque the head on a cold engine after the initial warm up, after 100 miles, and after 1,000 miles. And bring the torque up to 55 foot-pounds in increments as above. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. Last edited by nkaminar; 09-13-2024 at 06:03 AM.