vettenuts

iTrader: (4)

Installed my heads yesterday using ARP studs. All holes were cleaned and verified with a boroscope. Lubes up the threads of the studs, screwed them into the block. Installed gaskets, then lubed the upper threads of all studs. Then installed heads. Next, lubed washers on both sides inside of nut and contact surface of nut where it contacts the washer. Bottom line, everything is lubed good and studs are bottomed hand tight in the block, per ARP instructions.

Here's what I found, when tightening through the torque sequence, the nuts would actually get easier while turning and then get hard and I would hit the torque click. Kind of hard to explain, but I am wondering if anyone else has run into this.

Some have said to loosen the nuts and start over, but I have found this is not recommended on an MLS gasket.

molson

iTrader: (1)

Mine felt normal during torquing....sorry I can't help.

BTW what plugs did you and up going with???

vettenuts

iTrader: (4)

Haven't got them yet, trying to figure out if I need to pull exhaust and re-torque.

Which head gaskets did you use?

uberLS-1

I have to disagree, quite a few people reuse those gaskets, how would loosening and re-tourqing be a negative considering there wasn't even expansion/contraction from the motor heating up. I would go through it again to be on the safe side.

vettenuts

iTrader: (4)

Maybe on the Cometics, but on the GM gaskets? I would think that would mess up the rubber seals.

molson

iTrader: (1)

I also used the MLS gaskets from G.M.

I don't think retorquing would mess them up.

As was stated the car wasn't started,and they will only compress so much.

vettenuts

iTrader: (4)

I may be making a mountain out of a mole hill (I have a tendency to do that) so I will see what ARP thinks tomorrow. When they tightened up they tightened up, it was just a little odd that as the wrench was moving it would get easy then hard. Never ran into that before.

hotrodrx7

iTrader: (13)

Probably the nut binding on the stud then the stud turning the rest of the way into the hole from the hand-tight position.

Viper

iTrader: (6)

vettenuts

You've waited this long, see what ARP says tomorrow although what hotrodrx7 makes good sense.

vettenuts

iTrader: (4)

That does make sense, because when I was tightening the lessoning of effort was only for about 1/8th turn or less so the stud might have been moving. When I installed them I tightened the studs gently with a wrench and then backed out 1/2 turn and re-tightened with my hand so even though they were bottomed with a good load on them they would likely move a bit. I have re-checked torque values on the nuts several times and they are OK. I even set the wrench a few ft-lbs higher and no movement.

vettenuts

iTrader: (4)

Follow-up: Just spoke to ARP. They feel that there is no problem since I got final torque and re-checked the torque several times including the day after. He agrees that a slight movement of the stud might produce what I felt, so a cigar goes to hotrodrx7

hotrodrx7

iTrader: (13)

Cubans would be nice.