head bolts...

TangMan50 · May 16, 2010

Just got my engine put together today and had a question before I actually went further with it. I got to reading and I'm reading conflicting things about the lower short head bolts. The Haynes manual says that you only have to put that thread sealant on V-6 engines that protects against leaking and if you have a V8 you only have to put a drop of oil in the holes...

This is a block from 1990 if there is any difference...

Who's right? Who's wrong?

stykthyn · May 16, 2010

i use arp lubricant on all engine fasteners. seals threads and makes more accurate tq values.

TangMan50 · May 16, 2010

Forgot to mention I used ARP head bolts also...

Haus · May 16, 2010

I dont think the oil is going to seal it. you should get a sealer for the bolts cause if the bolts protrude into a coolant jacket(which i believe the head bolts do) then you may have a leak

liljoe07 · May 16, 2010

Bottom holes go into water even on the 302 block.

lancec2c30 · May 16, 2010

Yep, the bottom bolts are in water. My builders manual said to put RTV on them.

TangMan50 · May 16, 2010

Well if that is the case what is the best way to correct them? The motor is still on the stand and the heads have already been bolted down. ( This is a brand new rebuild btw). Can I just take one off at a time or will it hurt anything if all the bolts are undone and retourqed?

Haus · May 16, 2010

TangMan50 said:
Well if that is the case what is the best way to correct them? The motor is still on the stand and the heads have already been bolted down. ( This is a brand new rebuild btw). Can I just take one off at a time or will it hurt anything if all the bolts are undone and retourqed?

did you use torque to yield bolts?

TangMan50 · May 16, 2010

Nah I used ARP bolts

gxnos · May 16, 2010

yeah those short bolts go right into a water jacket. in most cases, nothing is needed and a lot of people don't put on anything, but some gasket maker is recommended around the threads.

Take them out one at a time, add some RTV, put them back in and torque. Itll take you like 10 minutes.

lancec2c30 · May 16, 2010

Diesel guys swap to head studs one at a time with stock gaskets and run upwards of 45lbs of boost. So I don't see why you couldn't pull the bolts one at a time and put some rtv on them.

TangMan50 · May 16, 2010

Thanks. I guess I'lll undo one at a time and add some sealant. Is there a certain order when doing one at a time?

gxnos · May 16, 2010

some people will say start in the middle and work out like the torque sequence, but it doesnt matter. the head isnt lifting and nothing is changing.

when you are all said and done, go over and retorque the bolts one extra time to make sure they are all seated.

TangMan50 · May 16, 2010

Ok I'll do that. I guess im just freaking because of the head gasket is such a critical part. Being this is the first time i've built an engine in a very long time I wanted to be sure the head gasket wouldn't get messed up by unbolting anything...

stykthyn · May 17, 2010

if you were to allow the head to move then yes you would need to replace the gasket. The method described above will not allow the head or gasket to be disturbed so the areas of the gasket that are compressed are in their original locations and should not leak.

head bolts...

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I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

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I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

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