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My engine builder also said that 90 seems low. I went off the original spec sheet from my previous engine builder, because the 1/2" studs stayed the same. Seems like ARP wants 110 ft-lbs though.

Very small amounts leaked out. Just enough to run down the block and put a few drops on the floor. This is over the course of a week. I didn't notice anything in the oil. I also stuck a tie wrap down cylinders 1 and 4 and didn't get any signs of coolant.

Think it's safe to torque the heads down to 110 lbs and hope for the best?

If you put the torque wrench on the head bolts, have they backed off from 90? I'd try it @ 110 and see if that works. Worst case you are pulling them off anyway?:shrug:
 
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My engine builder also said that 90 seems low. I went off the original spec sheet from my previous engine builder, because the 1/2" studs stayed the same. Seems like ARP wants 110 ft-lbs though.

Very small amounts leaked out. Just enough to run down the block and put a few drops on the floor. This is over the course of a week. I didn't notice anything in the oil. I also stuck a tie wrap down cylinders 1 and 4 and didn't get any signs of coolant.

Think it's safe to torque the heads down to 110 lbs and hope for the best?
Personally, If it was my motor, I would heat cycle the thing as is. You'll need to re torque the heads after this anyway and I'm hoping you won't be doing burnouts or wot passes down the block when breaking the new motor in :D. Once the motor cools and you re torque the heads, loosen the head studs one at a time 1/4 turn and pull them right up to 110 ft/lbs and you should be fine. No body I know like re torquing heads, me included... It is a necessity though.
 
You're not the first to recommend a re-torque, but cometic insists on not re-torquing the heads. They also insist on no spray rtv either, but many people claim it's necessary. It's amazing how much the mileage varies when it comes to these gaskets.

Let me ask you, Nick. Why not torque to 110 now? I'm asking out of pure laziness because I only have the headers bolted up to the heads, and not the rest of the turbo kit. It wouldn't be a big deal to pull the valve covers and headers to tighten things down more. I'm just concerned that if I'm getting a water leak with just gravity, I'll have more issues when the cooling system is pressurized. I can re-torque and pressure test the cooling system to see how it does before firing the car up.
 
You're not the first to recommend a re-torque, but cometic insists on not re-torquing the heads. They also insist on no spray rtv either, but many people claim it's necessary. It's amazing how much the mileage varies when it comes to these gaskets.

Let me ask you, Nick. Why not torque to 110 now? I'm asking out of pure laziness because I only have the headers bolted up to the heads, and not the rest of the turbo kit. It wouldn't be a big deal to pull the valve covers and headers to tighten things down more. I'm just concerned that if I'm getting a water leak with just gravity, I'll have more issues when the cooling system is pressurized. I can re-torque and pressure test the cooling system to see how it does before firing the car up.
It's not uncommon for those gaskets to seep a small amount of liquid when first installed. For that matter, most motors that I've seen that don't have a freshly decked block and freshly decked heads will seep a small amount. Heat cycling the motor will likely stop the leak right off the bat. You'll actually see a greater clamping force on the heads when they are hot and the aluminum expands against the steel studs and block.

The only reason to not re torque them now is that I would like to see you do this after you heat cycle the motor. It certainly won't hurt anything to do this now, just cost you a little more time. I know that it is a huge pain in the a$$ but completely necessary in my book. I have to go as far as removing my headers and shaft rockers completely to get to all of my head studs and that really sucks! Doesn't matter how many times I do it, it sucks the same every time.
 
You're not the first to recommend a re-torque, but cometic insists on not re-torquing the heads. They also insist on no spray rtv either, but many people claim it's necessary. It's amazing how much the mileage varies when it comes to these gaskets.

Let me ask you, Nick. Why not torque to 110 now? I'm asking out of pure laziness because I only have the headers bolted up to the heads, and not the rest of the turbo kit. It wouldn't be a big deal to pull the valve covers and headers to tighten things down more. I'm just concerned that if I'm getting a water leak with just gravity, I'll have more issues when the cooling system is pressurized. I can re-torque and pressure test the cooling system to see how it does before firing the car up.
I'm w/ Nick on the heat cycle thing, and I cannot see how retorquing after that would be a bad thing. (Cometic advising against, or telling you that it's not necessary?) if it's the latter, I'd consider it a necessary one time evil, and be done w/ it.

I hear you on your concern that you're only half way re-assembled, and better to deal w/ it now by a do-over, but really? If it fixes it to heat cycle and retorque, or to go backwards and pull it apart and seal the suspected areas, how much time difference is actually involved?

PITA factor excluded
 
PITA factor excluded, it's all in the same. It does make sense to just keep pressing on and see what happens. The idea of having to take the entire hotside apart just to torque the heads is not exactly a pleasing thought. I've done it enough that it's not the end of the world, but it still sucks!

So, would you recommend getting the engine to operating temp in the garage, letting it cool, and then torque to 110 right after that? Or should I be going for a short drive?
 
I can just imagine the conversation with my girlfriend.

Her: I heard the car running in the garage. I guess everything is working now?
Me: Yup. Runs great. I'll be in the garage for the next 3 hours taking things apart and putting them back together.
Her: Why? The car is running fine, isn't it?
Me: Yes, but I'm a masochistic son of a b*tch and I hate myself.
 
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Conversation with my girlfriend:

Her: Was that the car running in the garage?
Me: Yep
Her: Does this mean we can go out to dinner since the car is finally done?
Me: Nope, maybe next week after we destroy the car at the track this weekend
Her: Why would you destroy it at the track? It finally looks pretty again
Me: Because enough is never enough, I enjoy torturing myself and my wallet, I'll never learn... Dinner is on you next week by the way I'm tapped out
 
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Huh, My conversation usually goes like:

Her: What was all that noise you were making in the garage?
Me: The freakin' head gasket leaks.
Her: That's not what was making all the noise, You were.
Me: That's BECAUSE the freakin' head gasket leaks!
Her: How you consider this "fun" is beyond me.
Me: This is all part of the "game"
Her: Well get your game playin ass into the bathroom, and take a shower, I'm hungry.
 
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The girlfriend proposed a new Facebook group last night for "Women of Car Guys". I can only imagine the round table discussion that they would have if they all were to get together...

Sorry for derailing your thread Scott
 
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The girlfriend proposed a new Facebook group last night for "Women of Car Guys". I can only imagine the round table discussion that they would have if they all were to get together...

Sorry for derailing your thread Scott
In my experience it would just be another place they would get together to talk about wine and laugh at us.
 
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Wait, I wanna play:

Me: I need to roll it out, pump the fuel out of the tank and put new fuel in it.
Her: rolleyes
Me: Sure would be great to pickup control arms and shocks this year.
Her: rolleyes
Me: Godamn it's nice outside. Need to get the Mustang put back together and go ride!
Her: Honey do list starts here/


































/honey do list ends/
rolleyes
 
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Me too, me too!

me: I need just a few more parts to get the Mustang running, can't wait!
her: How long have you had that thing and it still doesn't run?
me: It should be this month If I can just find time to work on it
her: shouldn't you be finishing the tile trim in the bathroom?
me: I'll do that this summer
her: I'd rather you remove those bushes and shrubs and put grass there
me: Just ordered parts, no money for anything else until my next paycheck
her: how much money do you spend on that dang thing?!
me: less that I spend on the kids, more than I spend on you
her::nonono:

This conversation repeats like Bill Murray in Ground Hogs Day.
 
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