torqueing heads
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I have not had the heads off my C-6 but have had the heads off my C-5. Assuming the torquing is the same, in the case of the '99, 15mm high quality socket, 6 inch high quality extension and a very long high quality breaker bar, torqued them down properly. It took a lot of strength to get the exact torque/turns on those bolts. Also, you should be using brand new bolts....did you insure that there is no coolant or oil in the head bolt holes? If you didn't make sure, you are trying to torque down against something that will not give and what will result is a broken block.
Track Junky
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,074
Likes: 36
From: Orlando Area
Tech Contributor
Rent a 25-250 ft-lb torque wrench from your local auto part store. The handle should be about 24" long which will give you plenty of leverage. Bring the tool back when you are done and get your deposit back.
Ditto with respect to using new bolts and cleaning / chasing the threads. GM head bolts are torque to yield so they cannot be reused. Personally, I have had bad luck with GM replacement bolts so I would encourage the use of ARP bolts. I read about a trick to grind flats in opposite sides of an old head bolt to chase the threads prior to installing new ones. You wouldn't believe how much crap collects in there, even after blowing them out with an air gun.
Hope this helps,
Sean
Ditto with respect to using new bolts and cleaning / chasing the threads. GM head bolts are torque to yield so they cannot be reused. Personally, I have had bad luck with GM replacement bolts so I would encourage the use of ARP bolts. I read about a trick to grind flats in opposite sides of an old head bolt to chase the threads prior to installing new ones. You wouldn't believe how much crap collects in there, even after blowing them out with an air gun.
Hope this helps,
Sean
Last edited by taken19; Jul 14, 2011 at 10:02 PM.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 263
Likes: 7
From: Brownsville Texas
Rent a 25-250 ft-lb torque wrench from your local auto part store. The handle should be about 24" long which will give you plenty of leverage. Bring the tool back when you are done and get your deposit back.
Ditto with respect to using new bolts and cleaning / chasing the threads. GM head bolts are torque to yield so they cannot be reused. Personally, I have had bad luck with GM replacement bolts so I would encourage the use of ARP bolts. I read about a trick to grind flats in opposite sides of an old head bolt to chase the threads prior to installing new ones. You wouldn't believe how much crap collects in there, even after blowing them out with an air gun.
Hope this helps,
Sean
Ditto with respect to using new bolts and cleaning / chasing the threads. GM head bolts are torque to yield so they cannot be reused. Personally, I have had bad luck with GM replacement bolts so I would encourage the use of ARP bolts. I read about a trick to grind flats in opposite sides of an old head bolt to chase the threads prior to installing new ones. You wouldn't believe how much crap collects in there, even after blowing them out with an air gun.
Hope this helps,
Sean
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,712
Likes: 3
From: TEXOMA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
dont use a tap, take an old bolt and grind off the threads on two sides. run it down and blow out the hole at least twice in each. install arp studs and never have to clean a bolt hole again!
