DAVESS02

iTrader: (30)

I recently installed a set of new heads (Dart 225's) and ARP studs with felpro 1041 head gaskets. I've been smelling coolant for a couple of weeks now. I got a mirror tonight and found the center lower head stud leaking a small amount, just seeping, from under the washer. I checked the pass side and found a very small amount comming from that center lower stud as well. When I changed the heads, I took great care to clean any coolant from the bolt holes. I have an air compressor so I blew them out, filled holes with brake cleaner and blew them out 3 more times. No doubt at all they were clean. Anyhow, I'm wondering if anyone else has seen just the center two leak at the bolts/studs before. Seems more than just coincidental to me.

vettenuts

iTrader: (4)

What did you torque to? Can you get a socket on them and verify them as still tight?

Whistler

iTrader: (46)

How tight did you tighten the studs into the block before dropping on the heads?

DAVESS02

iTrader: (30)

Torqued to 75 ft/lbs per arp instructions using their moly lube. I will try to check them this weekend but I have to move the header to do that. I'm starting to wonder if the gaskets are defective in the centers since only the center two lowers are leaking. Anyway, I bought a pack of gm coolant seal tablets and put them in this morning so we'll see what happens.

DAVESS02

iTrader: (30)

I followed arp's instructions to not tighten them to bottom. I backed them off about 1/8 - 1/4 turn when they bottomed out. Put the studs in after the heads were on but I did use the dowel pins so they were located.

vettenuts

iTrader: (4)

Just curious, you didn't use the older gasket design did you? Skoggin-Dickey has a write-up with photo's on the gaskets in their catalog, I scanned it in hoping it might help.

Firehawk441

iTrader: (41)

If by chance you pushed a stud into a cooling passage, it's not a big deal. Pull the stud and put sealer on it and put it back in. This is what you must do on all small and big block chevys.

DAVESS02

iTrader: (30)

I'm using Dart heads with felpro 1041 gaskets.

DAVESS02

iTrader: (30)

I called felpro's tech line today and told them about my seepage. BTW the GM seal tabs didnt work. The guy asked me how many times I torqued them and I told him once to 75ft lbs. Well, apparently felpro 1041 gaskets need torqued THREE times per my conversation with felpro tech support. Live and learn I guess. I thought these were the standard felpro blue gaskets, my bad. If anyone else uses these maybe you could post any instructions you get with your gaskets. I COULD EASILY BE WRONG, but i dont recall seeing any instructions in the vacuum packaging or printed on the outside.

vettenuts

iTrader: (4)

So what do you do now, re-tighten them or re-install new ones?

DAVESS02

iTrader: (30)

Start from scratch, I ordered new copper gaskets instead of the felpro's from Summit tonight. Learning from my mistake, I called the mfg first to check on their rec. torque procedure. I only have to re-torque once with these after one heat cycle. Much less work than 3 times and the gaskets arent any more expensive.