Tolerance-Ford aluminum heads

34fordy

34fordy

Well-known member
Is there a tolerance amount that can be overcome with proper torque application for the flatness of a Ford aluminum head horizontally and vertically?
 
when installing heads, especially Aluminum ones. I torque to 45 ft/lbs for three heat cycles. This is because the block has thick and thin thread holes. the heat cycles has a chance to have an even torque over the entire head.
Gramps
 
I don't think I asked the question properly. Overhead valve heads are quite thick and I don't think one would want them to be more than a couple thousands from being perfectly flat at the gasket surface. The Ford factory aluminum heads are thin compared to the O'head valve heads. I wondered if the allowable amount of gap either way could be greater on the Ford heads assuming that there might be a few thousands flex in them, as they are not as thick.
 
At first it would seem that way. However, any excess out-of-flat in either direction will require some extra amount of bolt torque to overcome the warp and bring the head back to flat. From that point the clamping force needs to be brought on up to proper spec. If the warp is minor the chances are pretty good it'll work ok.
It'd be interesting to install the head on a block with no gasket and see how tight the bolts need to be to bring the head down to flat...using a .001" feeler gauge to check.
 
cadillac512; It'd be interesting to install the head on a block with no gasket and see how tight the bolts need to be to bring the head down to flat...using a .001" feeler gauge to check.[/QUOTE said:
That is an EXCELLENT idea for aluminum or iron!!!!!

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