steel head gasket on AL heads, plus bolt question

[rrubel]

Ok. I have conflicting information that I'd like clarified before I have to re-do something...

I'm installing a set of aluminum heads onto a block that currently has cast iron. The place I bought the heads from sold me a set of Victor steel racing head gaskets as being best for the job. They said they were steel, though they actually feel like an alloy of some sort (haven't tried a magnet).

Anyway, as I'm reading through my Haynes and shop manuals to get familiar with the job, I see the Haynes manual saying to NEVER use steel gaskets on aluminum heads, to use a composite instead. Shop manual doesn't say anything, which is probably because it assumes you're using a GM part which will be right no matter what.

So - what's right? I can figure there'd be an expansion or reaction issue between steel and aluminum touching, but I'm not an expert.

Second question - I'm using new ARP head bolts, which say to install with moly lube so they torque properly. The Haynes manual says to use a non-drying gasket material in addition, so coolant won't leak (??). Is this required? I can't imagine I could get good torque readings using a sticky gasket goop.

Thanks much...

[RICHR]

 

[tntcorvette]

Good question....im not sure what kind of head gaskets my engine builder used on my car...

'85 block bored .040 with ported AFR 190 heads n such.......

But I do have a set of trick ARP head bolts that use a allen key, sorta like a poly nut on a rocker arm, to keep them night and tight.

I'll snap a picture of my head bolts in the a.m. and post them for ya.

 

[rrubel]

A poly lock head bolt... that's cool! Didn't see them in the catalog. I just got the normal ones, though I sprung for the 12-point's. Man, I can't believe there's like 17 bolts per head!
[RICHR]

 

[tntcorvette]

here is the pic.

If you look closely you will see the head bolts for the #1 cylinder with a small allen key (for demo purposes) in the left one and the one on the right is with out the allen key.

They are suppose to be the best way to go for forced induction motors.

 

[bowty]

aluminum heads need a copper fire ring to seal properly depending on bore size i would reccomend felpro 1034.also use permatex #2 on all threads be sure to torque bolts in 3 steps 35 55 75

 

[drags1998]

Hi there,Do yourself a HUGH favor, Go to g.m. and get OEM head gaskets. The ARP bolts are the BEST!!!!!!! perm#2 works well,Steel and Alu.dont always well together,the head gasket will eat into the head.

 

[JohnZ]

The place that sold you the heads obviously wants to sell you another set of heads in a year or two; NEVER use steel-shim gaskets with aluminum heads. Fel-Pro #1010 are made specifically for aluminum heads, with a pre-flattened copper fire ring, so it won't Brinell the head surface - I wouldn't use anything else (and don't).

Yes, you need thread sealer on the head bolt threads, or you'll have coolant leaks; the bolts go into the water jackets. I use ARP Thread Sealer on the bolt threads, and ARP Assembly Lube (moly) under the bolt heads; follow the instructions that come with the bolts, not anything you find in a shop manual.

 

[rrubel]

Well, I got the heads on yesterday (see my other thread). The Victor gaskets were indeed composite, NOT steel, and were specifically what I needed (they have a coated ring around the cylinders and water ports). I used Permatex high-temp teflon sealant on the bolts, and the directions didn't say anything about moly lube on the heads. I'm figuring that's why there were washers.

Also, in calling ARP, they told me that if you use teflon sealant, you do NOT need any other lube, and the moly lube is only for bolts that end in pockets.

Bowty, the bolts should only be tightened to 60 ft-lb on aluminum heads (that's per my manual and ARP, both). I did 45, 55, 60.

[RICHR]

 

[wallyknoch]

The original aluminum head GM engines L88, ZL!`s and the A990 Chrysler 426 Race Hemi came with a copper shim gasket which would be very hard to find. Victor Gasket Co. was supplying them. No longer in business. Dart recomends the Felpro race gasket as an alternative to the copper shim for their aluminum heads.

 

[Tom Bryant]

The purpose of using a lubricant under the bolt heads is to aid in achieving a consistant torque reading when torqing the bolts. If you install them dry there is friction between the bolt head and washer. The tighter the bolt becomes the greater the friction resistance to the bolt turning becomes. In other words you are measuring torque and friction doing it dry. Not just torque.

A lube under the bolt head will reduce greatly the amount of friction that is being read as torque. Your torque readings will be more accurate. This is just one of those things that a pro engine builder automatically does and never thinks about.

Tom