aluminum heads

There are many theories/ideas about how to torque the heads and especially aluminum heads! It apparently doesn't make that much difference as various methods seem to work.
 
lameyer said:
Why do you torque aluminum heads from one side to the other rather than from the middle out?
Click to expand...

I would not torque any builds using that method, it definitely is NOT the recommended procedure by the largest gasket mfr on the planet!

See the photo below. If you look closely you can see the mfr recommends two different patterns, both Flatheads, between the Ford and the Merc. There has to be a good reason for this, and they design the gaskets!

That method you show MAY force the gasket to "distort" some before you even get started!

We also torque all heads in either 2 or 3 steps depending on the final number. We DO back down the torque number slightly on any aluminum head platform.

Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

P.S. Wishing all here a Happy Holiday season and a Happy New Year.
 

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Well there you go for starters, Fords and Mercury's use the same block and can use the same aluminum heads, yet it shows two different torque patterns.
 
When I went though the engine last winter and installed the stock cast iron heads I used the pattern shown in your picture, it is the same as the service manual. But the instructions that came with the aluminum heads say to go from one side to the other. I am more inclined to go with your method it makes more sense to me.
.
 
I went with the standard pattern out of an old Chiltons manual, aluminum heads, I did keep the torque down to 50 lbs. no issues, engine runs great.
 
I'd also like to know why different torque pattern for Ford and Merc in that pic? Either one will do for either engine. But why are they different in that example? There both 24 stud or bolt depending on year. And identical in the post war to 48? I always go out in a circle from the middle, but have seen the one end to the other as mentioned. Not done it that way, sounds odd to me.
Martin.
 
The two drawings in GOSFAST's post are both 24 stud, but have strangely different bolt layout and spacing. The bottom one is more accurate, and is the torque sequence common on 8BAs. The one labeled F.H. Ford may be another make engine?
 
Makes no sense to me. Here's the tables from FelPro's catalog that refers to those figure numbers #32 and #33
 

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If the fasteners are pulled down evenly in reasonably small increments the sequence is of little importance.
 
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