Progress Thread Diagnosis front end clunk (and more)

AeroCoupe · May 3, 2026

What I don’t think you are understanding here is none of the instructions say to use any kind of lubricant at all. When you use lubricant and torque it to the same set value you are subjecting the threads to more tension stress than if assembling dry. This could result in pulling the threads.

Torque value for the lower to Ford aluminum heads is 16-18 ft-lbs or 192 - 216 in-lbs.

https://performanceparts.ford.com/download/instructionsheets/FordInstShtM-6049-X303X305Y303.pdf

https://performanceparts.ford.com/download/instructionsheets/fordinstshtm-9424-302351w.pdf

Read under “notes” in the NGK article:

https://www.ngk.com/ngk-plug-torque-settings

JD1964 · May 3, 2026

Here’s the instructions that came with the heads. Last bullet point says use anti seize in reference to intake, exhaust and spark plugs.

JD1964 · May 3, 2026

Water pump, cooling hoses and accessories are on. Next will be injector harness and ignition wires.

AeroCoupe · May 3, 2026

JD1964 said:
Here’s the instructions that came with the heads. Last bullet point says use anti seize in reference to intake, exhaust and spark plugs.

And zero on a torque value and some vague BS about inaccurate torque wrenches. So if you strip them not their fault. This is why I use studs as it takes all the BS out of it.

Regardless great progress and it looks really good man.

JD1964 · May 3, 2026

Here’s the whole page

JD1964 · May 3, 2026

I’ll be careful not to strip anything.

JD1964 · May 3, 2026

Interestingly here’s more about not using torque wrench on intake. This page also came with the heads

AeroCoupe · May 3, 2026

I can tell you that several of the ones on my 185’s pulled so I used helical inserts on all of them. Bought my heads back on 1998.

JD1964 · May 5, 2026

I got it all assembled. I did a first key turn short video. Just wanted to hear if start. I’m not going to run it up through a heat cycle tonight. I’ll do that and tinker more when I have more time to fiddle. This is just the very first 10 second run

View: https://youtu.be/8JZEbQ64Fxs?feature=shared

JD1964 · May 5, 2026

Obviously you can see the air pipe going straight from the MAF to the TB. I’m going to run it NA for a little while before putting the blower back online. Probably do that in the fall.

JD1964 · May 6, 2026

All the vital signs are good. Here’s an exhaust note sample

AFR 165’s, Stock HO cam, 1.7 rocker, shorty headers, xpipe, MagnaFlow cats, 40 series Flowmasters

View: https://youtu.be/eN2e6fnSPfw?feature=shared

JD1964 · May 7, 2026

I got the heads re-torqued this evening. Next chance I’ll re-torque the lower intake and button everything back up.

JD1964 · May 9, 2026

By the way, I was watching the coolant level on the initial warm up and saw when the thermostat opened. I can testify that the Tuff Stuff water pump has much better coolant flow at idle than my stock pump did. Nice upgrade!

View: https://youtu.be/HD_dQsbZBZE?si=HYtn2z6QtHfAmS91

JD1964 · May 10, 2026

I’m really glad I re-torqued the lower intake bolts. Remember when I initially did them I only put a small bit of wd40 on the threads. These’d bolts were already loose after the first heat cycle. 3 or 4 I could practically remove with my fingers. This time I put anti-seize on the threads and took them to 18ft/lbs. they’re good and snug now.

JD1964 · May 12, 2026

Drove it yesterday. Settling in nicely. Here’s the idle vacuum

JD1964 · May 12, 2026

Got a slight intermittent rattle somewhere on the front of the engine. Maybe a missing or loose accessory bolt. I’ll update when I track it down

JD1964 · May 12, 2026

Air intake pipe was knocking against the shock tower and there was a couple of compressor bolts needed some extra snugging. I don’t hear the rattle anymore.

Here’s the A/F ratio at idle, FP 39psi vac off, timing 10 degrees spout out.

Now the car gets an exterior wash and I’m going to daily it for a week or so.

Noobz347 · May 12, 2026

Can PLX make me a white-faced analog version of your multi-gauge with an amber backlight?

kthx

JD1964 · May 12, 2026

Noobz347 said:
Can PLX make me a white-faced analog version of your multi-gauge with an amber backlight?

kthx

Mine is one of the earlier ones. If anything else is available I suppose they would list it at their website. I’ve got no complaints about PLX. Still working great for me

PLX MultiGauges and Sensors

www.plxdevices.com

JD1964 · May 12, 2026

On my PLX I currently have vac/boost and AF. I just learned they have a fuel pressure module I can add to the chain. They didn’t have that before as I can remember. Be nice to have that available on demand.

Progress Thread Diagnosis front end clunk (and more)

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

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