Engine Head Torque maintenance

[joe.manfre@me.com]

I recently purchased a 1930 A. The motor was rebuilt two years ago and has a few thousand miles on it. Motor runs great, no issues.
Do you recomend I check the Head Bolts to re-torque? Should I just assume that a final torque was completed? Previous owner passed away.
Thank you in advance.

 

[Bob Bidonde]

I would check the torque of head nuts, but do not loosen them to re-torque them. I also recommend you incorporate this tip:

 

[old31]

Yes retorque them.

One, you can not assume they were done. Two, you are not sure how the head gasket settled in.

 

[jg61hawk]

Check the head bolts every year. Check the "banjo bolts" in the rear...Get the Red Book and look at the maintenance schedule. My rear end banjo loosen up every 2,000 miles.

These old birds are basically our modern day lawn mower motors and the head bolts on lawn mowers are always coming loose. I did a time repairing small engines, and head gaskets were often a problem because the head bolts were basically hand tight...vibration I guess and heat cycles. Torque often what it cost you....

 

[nkaminar]

Re torque to 55 ft-lbs. They may be really low on torque so start out at 35 and then increase by 10 ft-lbs. Sequence does not matter much. Re torque every year. Also re torque the nuts on the manifolds. There is differing opinion on what the correct torque is. I use 55 ft-lbs but other use as low as 20 ft-lbs, but that is really low. It all depends on the condition of your manifolds, whether they are flat and at the same plane with each other. Plus if they have the correct conical washers.

If there is a soft gasket underneath the goose neck (coolant outlet) be careful there. It is easy to crack the flanges. Best to take the gasket out and just use some gasket sealer.

 

[joe.manfre@me.com]

Thank you for your replies, they helped me a lot.