need some advice on installing and retorquing the new head gaskets

[sarantis]

Hello everybody
1)a mercruiser dealer told me to use no sealant at all when installing the new gaskets.Not even a thin film round the water passages? (i know that the gaskets are embedded with sealants but when taking off the gaskets of my 350 with only 10 hours of operation i noticed that the area round the water passages was slightly rusty).
2)Does it mind if i put rtv sealer instead of perfect sealer at the threads of the head bolts?
3)When the head retorquing takes place?After i just warm up the engine without running it?after some hours of usual operation?
4)What is the right process of retorquing thr heads?a) you loose all the bolts half a turn and then you tighten them?b)you loose and tighten one by one?c)you take out each bolt separately ,clean the old sealant and put a new one?
Thanks in advance




0.

 

[Don S]

Re: need some advice on installing and retorquing the new head gaskets

1. NO sealant
2. NO
3. No retorque
4. Best to use the new "angle torque" method of torquing the head. (more accurate) and no retorque is requiered. Even with the old method.

 

[Juniinc]

Re: need some advice on installing and retorquing the new head gaskets

U are using new head bolts? right

 

[Don S]

Re: need some advice on installing and retorquing the new head gaskets

U are using new head bolts? right

There is absolutely no requirement for new head bolts on a Chevy V8 engine.

That is only a way of selling head bolts and making the owner think he did something great.
No one has ever shown anything where GM says the head bolts should be replaced on a SBC.

 

[Juniinc]

Re: need some advice on installing and retorquing the new head gaskets

I'll have to disagree.
I've seen enough rusted / strectched head bolts,,,
It is more important to get a proper clamping force.
Newer GM engines better be using new head bolts especially if it's aluminum-alloy heads bolted to cast-iron blocks.

 

[krisnowicki]

Re: need some advice on installing and retorquing the new head gaskets

I hope this is not seen as hi jacking... but what is angle torqueing??

 

[Bondo]

Re: need some advice on installing and retorquing the new head gaskets

but what is angle torqueing??

Ayuh,... It's discussed, in depth in the manuals,...

I agree with Don,... No need for fresh bolts unless there's visable defects....

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: need some advice on installing and retorquing the new head gaskets

Clean out the threaded holes in the block by running an oiled tap through them. I like to dip the bolts in clean oil before installing them. That eliminates any "dry" friction and seems to give a better, more accurate torque measure. Torque them down in stages following the sequence outlined in the manual. SBC engines are very sturdy and forgiving. As was previously said, retorquing is not needed. Put it together and go boating. Hy