Re-torqued the heads today
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
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From: Indianapolis IN
Re-torqued the heads today
Just and FYI, on the new engine after startup,,, we did a 45 minute heat cycle and shut it off and let it sit over night.
Yesterday I removed the headers and re-torqued the head bolts. There were @ 3-4 bolts that were not to torque spec and had loosened up.
Since I am running the coper head gaskets re-torquing is mandatory.
Yesterday I removed the headers and re-torqued the head bolts. There were @ 3-4 bolts that were not to torque spec and had loosened up.
Since I am running the coper head gaskets re-torquing is mandatory.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,172
Likes: 11
From: somers, ny
Re: Re-torqued the heads today (ld85)
I used a composite gasket and found the same thing when i retorqued. why did you use a copper gasket?
BTW, that sounds like a nice combo. Do you plan to drag race it?]]
Good luck
BTW, that sounds like a nice combo. Do you plan to drag race it?]]
Good luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,426
Likes: 4
From: Heidelberg PA
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: Re-torqued the heads today (ralph)
ID85,
Good move, definately have to retorque new aluminum heads.
Glad to hear your setup is just about road ready. Keep us informed on
how it runs.
I expect mine to be running today after replacing the dang head gasket on my new setup. Never heard of heads walking (per AFR) until now.
anyway here's to you :cheers:
Good move, definately have to retorque new aluminum heads.
Glad to hear your setup is just about road ready. Keep us informed on
how it runs.
I expect mine to be running today after replacing the dang head gasket on my new setup. Never heard of heads walking (per AFR) until now.
anyway here's to you :cheers:
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
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From: Indianapolis IN
Re: Re-torqued the heads today (85vet)
Hey Ralph, went with copper to get a .040 quench. THe block was just skim cut and it did not take enough off.
85vet, let us know how your re-start up goes. After the posts on re-torquing I figured 1-more day down would be less painful then a problem later.
85vet, let us know how your re-start up goes. After the posts on re-torquing I figured 1-more day down would be less painful then a problem later.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
Re: Re-torqued the heads today (John G 92)
Let me ask you guys a question. I'm sure that GM dosn't retorque heads after they build the motors when the cars are new so is it really needed?
FWIW my 1010 FelPros have not let any bolts come loose (yet) in the 2 pairs I've used.
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 2
From: The Motor City
Re: Re-torqued the heads today (scorp508)
Hey Scorp!
On your advice I used a set of Felpro 1010s. I just got the car running last weekend, but I haven't retorqued my head bolts yet. Seeing as you have more experience than I do on this, and that you suggested the 1010s to begin with, should I go through the effort of retorquing? It's alot of stuff that has to come off in order to do it (I'm sure I don't have to tell YOU). I'll go through the effort if I have to - I just don't know if it's necessary; I've put some 20 or 30 test miles on the car since I got it running and nothing's happened so far...
Thanks Scorp - for all your help!
On your advice I used a set of Felpro 1010s. I just got the car running last weekend, but I haven't retorqued my head bolts yet. Seeing as you have more experience than I do on this, and that you suggested the 1010s to begin with, should I go through the effort of retorquing? It's alot of stuff that has to come off in order to do it (I'm sure I don't have to tell YOU). I'll go through the effort if I have to - I just don't know if it's necessary; I've put some 20 or 30 test miles on the car since I got it running and nothing's happened so far...
Thanks Scorp - for all your help!
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
Re: Re-torqued the heads today (TheCorvetteKid)
You can if you want to for peace of mind, but I'll tell you right now I'm not planning to when I put the engine back together for a THIRD time soon. :)
Hehe... you're 89 has lots more to take off than my 87 does with the different AC compressor. :p: ;)
Hehe... you're 89 has lots more to take off than my 87 does with the different AC compressor. :p: ;)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,172
Likes: 11
From: somers, ny
Re: Re-torqued the heads today (TheCorvetteKid)
ID85, i was going to do the same thing for the same reason, but enough people talked me out of using the copper. I hope it works out for you. I came close, but went with a .026 composite instead. Good luck.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 594
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield CT U.S.A. CT
Re: Re-torqued the heads today (scorp508)
Scorp I hear ya I like to do things right myself. I got the felpro 1074 head gaskets. They are made for the 92-96 LT1 and LT4 engines only and are precompressed gaskets thinkness .039". So I should be in good shape.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,426
Likes: 4
From: Heidelberg PA
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: Re-torqued the heads today (TheCorvetteKid)
Hey Scorp!
On your advice I used a set of Felpro 1010s. I just got the car running last weekend, but I haven't retorqued my head bolts yet. Seeing as you have more experience than I do on this, and that you suggested the 1010s to begin with, should I go through the effort of retorquing? It's alot of stuff that has to come off in order to do it (I'm sure I don't have to tell YOU). I'll go through the effort if I have to - I just don't know if it's necessary; I've put some 20 or 30 test miles on the car since I got it running and nothing's happened so far...
Thanks Scorp - for all your help!
On your advice I used a set of Felpro 1010s. I just got the car running last weekend, but I haven't retorqued my head bolts yet. Seeing as you have more experience than I do on this, and that you suggested the 1010s to begin with, should I go through the effort of retorquing? It's alot of stuff that has to come off in order to do it (I'm sure I don't have to tell YOU). I'll go through the effort if I have to - I just don't know if it's necessary; I've put some 20 or 30 test miles on the car since I got it running and nothing's happened so far...
Thanks Scorp - for all your help!
If only I had re-torqued :banghead: , I probably would not of had to tear the engine down :mad .
Jim
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 3,570
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From: Austin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Elgin, etc.. Texas
Re: Re-torqued the heads today (John G 92)
GM uses TTY head bolts which stretch a little when torqued down. They maintain proper clamping force after the heat cycles.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,426
Likes: 4
From: Heidelberg PA
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: Re-torqued the heads today (Lone Ranger)
Is re-torqueing after the motor gets hot then cools to cold also necessary for intake bolts?:)
[Modified by Lone Ranger, 9:40 PM 5/23/2003]
[Modified by Lone Ranger, 9:40 PM 5/23/2003]
[Modified by 85vet, 12:49 AM 5/24/2003]
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
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From: Boston, MA
Re: Re-torqued the heads today (Mez)
GM uses TTY head bolts which stretch a little when torqued down. They maintain proper clamping force after the heat cycles.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
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From: Indianapolis IN
Re: Re-torqued the heads today (eguyett1985)
On my Darts, after the heat cycle I retorqued and found 3-4 not tight. I did have to remove the headers to get to the lower bolts.
OlRJ, found 3-4 not tight on his re-torque of his AFR's too.
I decided that one more day was not going to kill me and let the car set from 5:00PM till morning and did the deed!
I cant advise someone else on wha tto do, just posting that I found 3-4 loose. The guy that built my short block uses Dart heads weekly on all of his circle track motors and they dont re-torque BUT they dont use copper gaskets either.
OlRJ, found 3-4 not tight on his re-torque of his AFR's too.
I decided that one more day was not going to kill me and let the car set from 5:00PM till morning and did the deed!
I cant advise someone else on wha tto do, just posting that I found 3-4 loose. The guy that built my short block uses Dart heads weekly on all of his circle track motors and they dont re-torque BUT they dont use copper gaskets either.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 401
Likes: 1
From: Aptos CA
Re: Re-torqued the heads today (ld85)
What kind of head bolts? ARPs usually don't need re-torque. Doesn't the copper gasket set as fast as the composites? I thought that most newer style gaskets were pre-squashed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,215
Likes: 6
From: Tampa Florida
Re: Re-torqued the heads today (ld85)
I think it always wise to check bolt torque after reassembling parts-intake, head, rearend, etc...unless you feel lucky! :)
For head gaskets...I'm quite sure the type of gasket matters on whether it needs retorqued. I'm unsure if the type of bolt matters as much as all bolts are designed for a certain amount of stretch to insure preload.
I'm running OEM Impala gaskets on my LT4 and decided not to mess with it. I have run several sets of Fel Pros on my 406 and never retorqued and I can say I recently removed the heads from it-all the bolts were good.
AFR's are completely different castings than OEM Chevy so maybe they don't have the same cycling setup that the factory has...I don't know...real bummer to have to take the engine down no matter what. :(
For head gaskets...I'm quite sure the type of gasket matters on whether it needs retorqued. I'm unsure if the type of bolt matters as much as all bolts are designed for a certain amount of stretch to insure preload.
I'm running OEM Impala gaskets on my LT4 and decided not to mess with it. I have run several sets of Fel Pros on my 406 and never retorqued and I can say I recently removed the heads from it-all the bolts were good.
AFR's are completely different castings than OEM Chevy so maybe they don't have the same cycling setup that the factory has...I don't know...real bummer to have to take the engine down no matter what. :(