corvette90

Hi all

can you tell me what to use as a thread sealant on cylinder head bolts??

thank you!!!

Dominic Sorresso

Pipe thread sealant. Not the Teflon tape. Also, oil the bolt heads to reduce likelihood of false torque reading.


[Modified by Dominic Sorresso, 4:00 PM 11/10/2003]

No Go

ARP offers their own thread sealant just for that situation.

I just did this job this weekend.

:)

MrNuke

:iagree: Friend of mine got me GM thread sealant with PTFE or somethign like it. Blue/White Tube. You know you have the right one as it LITERALLY smells like AZZ.. SMelly AZZ..Stinky. :lol:

88_vette

I wouldn't go with just pipe thread sealant in the non tape form. I did this on the build up of my engine. The antifreeze ate that stuff up in about 30 min I had antifreeze coming out of every bolt along the bottom. I would us the stuff from ARP

JAKE

Permatex #2: Really gooey stuff but works like crazy. Been using it for years.

Jake

65Z01

This is a very interesting post; certainly don't want to have to redo that job. :yesnod:

Topload

I just finished putting AFR heads on my 94 last weekend - used Permatex thread sealant with teflon (item # 80631 14A). This product is supposed to be a duplicate of what GM used to assemble the engines originally and seemed to work fine. I had to removed a couple of bolts (another story) and the stuff really adhears to the threads. I've driven the car approx. 200 miles and everything is sealed tight.......good luck.

:seeya

RonJ

Any quality gasket shellac should do the trick.

You know the kind that if you get it on your fingers, it's there for a week ... :lol:

Dominic Sorresso

I have TFS 23d heads and their website offers excllent installation instructions at http://www.trickflow.com.
Here's what they suggest for sealant and what I used:
Installing the Trick Flow Heads

With the block clean and all checks completed, position the head gaskets per the manufacturer's markings. Some head gaskets will have "UP" imprinted on one side, while others may have "FRONT." When the gasket is positioned correctly, don't be alarmed if some of the holes in the block are restricted by a smaller hole in the gasket. This is done intentionally to regulate coolant flow.

With gaskets in place, push the heads down onto the dowel pins evenly so that the head is flat against the gasket.

Next, place all head bolt washers on the head to protect the aluminum surface. Put a small amount of ARP moly lube on the tops of all washers once they are in place.

There are three different lengths of head bolts/studs. Coat all threads with a premium thread sealer (Permatex 3H Aviation Form-a-Gasket for bolts, Loctite Blue for studs), let them set up for a while, then place the bolts in their proper locations. Torque the bolts in the three stages below, following the sequence in Figure 1:

Step One: 32 ft.-lbs.
Step Two: 52 ft.-lbs.
Step Three: 70 ft.-lbs.

Figure 1

Go over once again at 70 ft.-lbs. to be safe. Retorquing shouldn't be necessary after initial break-in, but can be done if desired.

corvette90

thank you for all your answers...

my problem is, that permatex is not available here in Austria, and cannot shipped by air..(its hazardous, i was told)

i need to find another stuff...

have Loctite 542 at home, its a thread sealant for hydraulic lines...

can the thread sealant harden out, or must it stay rubberly??

i hope, somebody can tell me what to use...

thank you!!!!

Skippy Stone

Swell. My ARP set came with instructions that talked alot about lubricating the bolts. The instructions said absolutely nothing about using a sealant. I wanted to do it right, so I didn't use any lock or sealant of any kind. I will let you know if the bolts un-torque.

No Go

It isn't so much as untorquing, but the leakage from the cooling system thru the threads. The head bolts go into the coolant system and will leak if you don't use some type of sealant.

I've even used Blue RTV with good results-terrible cleanup on disassembly, but it worked fine.

I would also mention torque to the value your fasteners are rated for-ARP is different than OEM, etc...don't follow OEM for ARP fasteners...my aluminum heads required 65 ft/lbs with ARP bolts.

:)

Skippy Stone

Well, heck I followed the directions-that's my problem :) . My original head bolts had no evidence of sealant or water contact when I took them off, so maybe I'll be okay.

corvette90

hmm..seems i will go with the black RTV sealant...

thank you!!