head bolt pressure

[WholeNewSetOfProblems]

Question: To what pressure must heads bolts be torqued down to (Model A)? Thank you!

[katy]

55 ft-lbs

[nkaminar]

Welcome to the Barn. Please tell us a little about your car and where you live.

The recommended torque for the head nuts is 55 foot-pounds. Bring the torque up in 10 foot-pound steps from 25 foot pounds. Start the engine and let it run for 15 minutes. Let the car cool down and re torque. Then run 100 miles and re torque once the car cools down. Re torque after 500 miles. Always torque on a cold engine.

[Joe K]

And don't forget to "pattern" torque according to some "force distributive" path.

Somewhere online is a "torque pattern" commonly used. You can't start at one end and work your way to the other end - rather "alternate your torqued bolts."

I see Vince Falter's "Ford Garage" site is back up and functional. He has a good page on this https://www.fordgarage.com/pages/tighteningsequence.htm

Joe K

[JayJay]

Copied from my (well used) Red Book. This (front to the right) is an end-for-end rotation of the one in Vince Falter's photo (front to the left).

[WholeNewSetOfProblems]

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Follow-up question- I'm not at home, and need to buy a torque wrench- what size are Model A head bolts- thank you very much!

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by WholeNewSetOfProblems

Follow-up question- I'm not at home, and need to buy a torque wrench- what size are Model A head bolts- thank you very much!

Wrench size is 11/16". My bad, JayJay corrected me.

I actually have the Genuine Snap-on 11/16" Obstruction Wrench for the Model A Head Nut under the distributor..

[JayJay]

The nuts are 11/16". I use a 3/8" drive click-type torque wrench, a range of around 20-80 ft-lbs or so should be fine. There is one nut (nut #1) that is underneath the distributor. If you don't want to dismount the distributor to get to it each time you torque the head I'd suggest that you get one of these gizmos, along with a socket adapter to go from the 3/8" drive torque wrench (female side of the adapter) to the 1/2" drive of the gizmo (male side of the adapter).

And don't just bypass torqueing that nut because it's inconvenient to get to. That nut seals the gasket between the narrow parts of the #2 and #3 cylinder. That location (and between #3 and #4, nut #7) are the most vulnerable to head gasket blowout. They MUST be properly torqued.

[ModelA29]

You'll need to remove the distributor or use this tool. It sounds like you are new to all wrenching on cars - buy the tool. Or get in touch with your local A club. Someone will loan you one or help you get it done.
https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/p...8661&cat=41753

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

Wrench size is ⅝".

Head nuts? You sure about that?

The bolts that fasten the water return goose neck and the side timing gear cover are 5/8". Front timing gear cover bolts are 9/16".

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by ModelA29

You'll need to remove the distributor or use this tool. It sounds like you are new to all wrenching on cars - buy the tool. Or get in touch with your local A club. Someone will loan you one or help you get it done.
https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/p...8661&cat=41753

I'd also suggest that you purchase a copy of Les Andrews' Model A Ford Mechanic's Handbook - Volume 1. Also known as the "Red Book", it is pretty much of a complete guide to service and maintenance of your Model A. Excellent reference, and written by a very nice guy whom I've had the pleasure to meet.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by JayJay

Head nuts? You sure about that?

JayJay, Just checking to see if you are awake, haha.

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

JayJay, Just checking to see if you are awake, haha.

Yeah, well you caught me a few months ago, so all is well.

[Y-Blockhead]

JayJay, y'all going to CCRG in Visalia in a couple of weeks?

[ModelA29]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

JayJay, y'all going to CCRG in Visalia in a couple of weeks?

From what I've heard there must be 20 cars going from SoCal. I cancelled our room a couple weeks ago. The new seat for our Coupe won't be finished.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by ModelA29

From what I've heard there must be 20 cars going from SoCal. I cancelled our room a couple weeks ago. The new seat for our Coupe won't be finished.

This Sunday we are headed in the opposite direction...

[katy]

Originally Posted by nkaminar

The recommended torque for the head nuts is 55 foot-pounds. Bring the torque up in 10 foot-pound steps from 25 foot pounds. Start the engine and let it run for 15 minutes. Let the car cool down and re torque. Then run 100 miles and re torque once the car cools down. Re torque after 500 miles. Always torque on a cold engine.

I was tought that on any cylinder head, start in the middle and work out in a spiral pattern.

In post #8, a 3/8" drive torque wrench was suggested. If you have to buy a torque wrench I would recommend a 1/2" drive as you might need it later for other jobs that require higher torque values.

[WholeNewSetOfProblems]

I appreciate all the advice. I'm thinking I don't have the competency or the confidence to tackle the torquing of these headbolts. I cannot get a response from local Model A Ford Club in Wsbg VA. Seeking any available assistance in Tidewater (located in Mathews, Va) thank you.

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

JayJay, y'all going to CCRG in Visalia in a couple of weeks?

Affirmative. Flying solo, my bride backed out to spend the weekend with her three sisters in Bend, OR. Bunch from our club (Santa Clara Valley Chapter of MAFCA), I’ll PM you with details.

[Ayers1]

Originally Posted by WholeNewSetOfProblems

I appreciate all the advice. I'm thinking I don't have the competency or the confidence to tackle the torquing of these headbolts. I cannot get a response from local Model A Ford Club in Wsbg VA. Seeking any available assistance in Tidewater (located in Mathews, Va) thank you.

If you can't get a response from a local Model A club, look up an AACA club. They frequently have Model a owners as members.
Also, if you don't want to buy a wrench like Jay-Jay shows above, I have a set of crow foot wrenches that can do the same thing. You can find a set of those fairly easily.