C1-will smoke no more!! Thanks!

[Don Izzo]

Well I got the heads back from the Speed Shop's machine shop last night. When he took them apart he found that the original engine builder didn't properly cut the guides for the pc seals. Most all of the seals were damaged or destroyed. He cleaned up the heads, properly re-cut the guides, installed new seals and provided me with the missing steel valve shields. He also took .002 off of the head surface to remove some minor irregularities he found in the surface that the original engine builder didn't address.

The Speed Shop owner (a large shop with many machinists) was reluctant to bad mouth the first rebuilder because he gets a lot of heavy work from him that he can't do himself being a one man operation. The speed shop guy told me that in fact HE bored my block and align honed the mains for the original rebuilder. Said that the problem with the heads was just a stupid "mistake" and that he has seen worse from other rebuilders. Sure!

Now for the reassembly, what is the recommended torque for the head bolts? I read 65 ft. lbs. but it has been suggested that I go up to 70-75 ft. lbs.

By the way, thanks to all here who offered their advice to me on this problem. You guys always provide great information and suggestions. I always get more than one opinion which is something I look forward to in helping me to diagnose my problem.

Don

[Mike McKown]

Re: C1-will smoke no more!! Thanks!

I believe one of the important things in installing and torqueing head bolts is to draw them down in ten pound increments starting about 40 pounds and working your way up.

Don't forget to chase the threads with a tap and then re-seal the head bolt threads. Same on the intake bolts that go into the water jacket and the lifter valley.