Header Bolt Torque question for those who have...

[Anonymous]

Hey gang,

I got my port divider in place and it is setting up with high temp cotronics ceramic epoxy as I type.

I'll definitely have a lot of the epoxy left over...if anyone needs some PM me.

Question is...I have a clifford header gasket and it is very thick. How much torque do you put on the header bolts? I know it's center out, but what about rechecking later , etc? Can I overtorque and ruin the gasket?

Also I have a set breslin locking header bolts, should I coat them with high temp anti seize or leave them as is?

Thanks for the help.

Steve-O

 

[wsa111]

Steve, tighten all header bolts to roughly 25 ft. lbs. After the engine is fired up & for the next week consantly tighten the header bolts to that torque, do it every day, by doing this daily you will prevent a blown header gasket. Using this method i have no header gasket leakage problems. William

 

[strat1960s]

Steve O'

I found a company called Flatout who made a composit/copper/composite header gasket for me. I have been told these gaskets are re-useable. I sent them my clifford header gasket as a template. I have a clifford header gasket on my car right now. So far it has lasted 3 months. But the ticking sounds are comming out of hiding. Part of the ticking sound is from my port divider which came loose. I am going to take the car to an exhaust shop to have them weld the divider back in place. Since I am running an oz head, to do any header work, I have to remove the intake manifold. I am waiting for AZ Coupe's intake gaskets to arrive and then I'll take the car in.

Any how, it is very important that you not over tighten the header bolts. You may warp the header. I was told 18 to 20 lbs. I was also told to re-check the bolts and tighten as needed, but again, not beyond 20 ft lbs. You need to remember to loosen the locking screws before you loosen or tighten the header bolts. If you don't remember to do this, it will mess up the threads on the head.
The clifford gasket is basically treated card board. If you have a problem with blown header gaskets, try soaking them in water for less than 1 minute. The water will cause the gasket to swell.

Hope this project goes well for you.
Ted

PS I'm still a green light for the AOR in May. Maybe we'll cross paths.

 

[Anonymous]

I e-mailed Breslin regarding using anti-seize on their specialty locking header bolts.

The reply:
Thanks for your interest in Split Lock fasteners. You can use anti-seize on Split Lock fasteners but we don't suggest it do the the fact that the bolts use the friction lock method. I will bring down the locking ability of the fastener just a little bit. I you are concerned about the galling of the fastener to the head, we have not experienced any issues with that. The fastener spread into the root of the threads and dampens all the harmonics and vibraitions that cause the gulling. If you have any other questions please feel free to call us at 1-800-695-3690.

Anyone agree or disagree?

r/
Steve-O

 

[Anonymous]

Ihave a clifford long tube header on my 200 there is no way to torque all of my bolts I use azcoups header gasket and put high temp gasket sealer on the threads and tighten as evenly as possible the header has been on for about a yr and i just got back from a trip to KS about 2000 miles and all is still quite no leaks yet

 

[mustang6]

I think their explaination makes some sense.