Hardened washers for headbolts...... grade 8 ok?

[Eric Rose]

Hey again guys

Going to pick my motor up from the machine shop Friday morning. I will need some hardened washers to go under the headbolts as the head has been resurfaced quite a bit.

Are grade 8 washers OK to use? I can get pretty much any fastener under the sun from a specialty shop in town, so if you guys let me know what I will need I'll see if they have it.

Thanks for all the help so far

 

[Bort62]

Good enough for me @ ~ 8 psi

 

[CobraSix]

Yeah, just use grade 8. it's what I used with absolutely no problems.

Also, be sure to clean out the tapped holes in the block with a thread cleaner, and put a light coating of oil on the bolts as you torque them down. It'll help ensure proper torque settings.

Slade

 

[Eric Rose]

Also, be sure to clean out the tapped holes in the block with a thread cleaner,

Can I use a tap to clean the threads, or do I need an actual thread chaser?

What kind of oil should I use on the threads? Motor oil, machine oil (3 in 1), or something different?

 

[CobraSix]

tap is fine...just want to make sure there is no grit in there.

Any kind of motor oil will be fine...you'll only be dabbing your finger in it to put a very light coat on the threads.

 

[Gene Fiore]

Can you tell me what size washers you end up with? I will need to do this myself but won't have the luxury of pulling a bolt before I can obtain the washers. I must have the washers in advance. Thanks.

 

[Bort62]

Well, they are 7/16ths bolts

 

[Anonymous]

Can you tell me what size washers you end up with? I will need to do this myself but won't have the luxury of pulling a bolt before I can obtain the washers. I must have the washers in advance. Thanks.

Gene,

Order Mr Gasket part number 87 7/16th's header bolt washers.

They are hardened and machined flat on both sides.

Later,

Doug

 

[Does10s]

Gene,
Just order some ARP studs from Mike!
Will

 

[mugsy]

I used hardware store Grade 8 washers. I thought I bought 1/2" but has been some time since I rebuilt the motor. You had etter check. I was lucky, the thickness of the washer matched the amount of material taken off the head and block. I also put a small dab of never-seize on the bolt head/washer contact point. Plus some motor oil on the threads too. Seems to be OK, no leaks yet with about 500 miles on the engine.

 

[Asa]

don't forget to put some anti-seize lubricant on the surface of the washers, you don't want binding on them creating a false torque reading

 

[Eric Rose]

About to go get the washers and put the head on today.

What torque should I tighten the head bolts to?

I've also go to find an oil pan today. My old oil pan was fubar'd and the oil pan on my new motor is for a fox chassis so it won't clear my front suspension. D'oh!!!

 

[mugsy]

Go buy a Factory Service Manual, it has all the information you need plus some. They're worth their weight in gold IMHO.

 

[Asa]

Go buy a Factory Service Manual, it has all the information you need plus some. They're worth their weight in gold IMHO.

but in the meantime an immediate answer helps

torque the headbolts down in three steps, starting from the middle and going in a star pattern (like lugnuts)

55ft-lbs
65ft-lbs
70-75ft-lbs

i forget the intervals between them, but the first interval is about an hour, then it's two or three hours, then it's something like seven or eight hours (i think)

gimme a second, i'll try and find more information

here's a good post by addo about it
http://fordsix.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=281196#281196

i got two 7/16ths bolts from the local hardware store, cut the heads off, and cut a notch in them so i could back them out with a flathead screwdriver, then barely screwed them into the holes at opposite ends of the head so they would act as guide-pins or dowels as i lowered the head down

EDIT: here's the sequence for it, this is for a 300ci I6, so ignore the torque settings, but the sequence is good

So, what are the correct toque rates on the head bolts? Is there a chart some where?

Here's what you need!!

HEAD BOLT TORQUE FOOT POUNDS (FINAL TORQUE)
TORQUE SEQUENCE ------------------------
| 11 7 3 2 6 10 14 |
| |
| 13 9 5 1 4 8 12 |
------------------------
STEP 1: TORQUE IN SEQUENCE 55 FT/LBS
STEP 2: TORQUE IN SEQUENCE 65 FT/LBS
STEP 3: TORQUE IN SEQUENCE 85 FT/LBS
RECHECK FINAL TORQUE IN SEQUENCE

 

[mugsy]

You must torque them down in three steps, if not, the head gasket will blow. Trust me, I know

Use the sequence in Addo's post, not the one for the 300. Addo's comes from the FSM. I was just too lazy to go get my FSM from the basement to give you the sequence.

 

[Anonymous]

Down towards the bottom of my page is the proper torque sequence.

http://www.geocities.com/mustang_man_19 ... etips.html

According to the Ford service manuel you dont have to wait between steps but it does help to wait for a while for the final torque sequence.

Later,

Doug

 

[Eric Rose]

I followed the instructions you guys gave as closely as I could. We used vaseline to lube the rockers/pushrods because we didn't have any moly grease. My dad has built plenty of motors and he said that would be OK.

Unfortunately the motor sat on the porch friday night and we had a good rain. It should be alright though, we scrubbed the little bit of surface rust off with some light oil.

The paint was drying on the oil pan as these pics were taken. Now it's all together and ready to drop in the car. I haven't done the valve cover gasket yet though, I will check the head bolt torque again once it's in the car.