Another Head Gasket

[e.prevost94]

So I'm putting my new composite gaskets on, and went to tighten down my heads. First to 15 FT/LBS, and then a 1/4 turn. At this point, they seem very tight. Almost excessively tight. And they want me to turn them an additional 1/4 turn :shock: . I realize they are torque to yield, but I don't exactly want to strip out a head bolt. They were VERY tight when I removed them, but again, I don't want to strip out anything. Is this tightness normal, or am I going to tight?

Thanks for the input.

[red90]

Yes, there should be a lot of torque required. I normally use a two foot bar. The torque mostly levels off as they yield.

[red90]

Also good to pickup a bottle of ARP Ultra Torque lube in the future when doing this sort of thing. It make a difference in ensuring even clamping force.

[island dormy]

Hi Mr Prevost94

I may be wrong here as I have no clue what year rover you are working on and maybe the rules have changed but I was always told to make sure the bolts were very clean and also the holes in the block that they go into, then put a squirt of 30 weight motor oil onto the head bolt or nut before tightening evenly in the pattern the repair manual suggests with a torque wrench. It makes a huge differance. There are charts on the internet that give the differant torque figures with differant grades of oil including snythetic (if your feeling rich).

Victor 1962 Dormobile

[Gromit Dog]

When you TTY (Torque to yeild) you are stretching the bolt. it becomes what is refered to as "coke bottled" because it actually narrows slightly in the centre. so yes.. go the extra 1/4. It's scarey, but it's designed to work that way

[e.prevost94]

Ok, so after more procrasination, I went against all of my instincts, and turned them the final 1/4, and they seem to be fine. Fingers crossed!! :thumbright: Thanks for the help!