What head bolts/gaskets to run?
What head bolts/gaskets to run? I'm going to be installing a set of CNC ported 243 heads soon.
What head bolts should I get? ARP's?
What about head gaskets, etc?
What are my old, stock, 241 heads worth?
Any gotchas on the install that I need to be aware of?
Thanks!
What head bolts should I get? ARP's?
What about head gaskets, etc?
What are my old, stock, 241 heads worth?
Any gotchas on the install that I need to be aware of?
Thanks!
If you are not going to be removing the heads ever again use stock GM bolts if you are going to be swaping heads again in the future you can use the ARP bolts the good thing about them is they are reuseable. Where as the GM head bolts are torque to yeild bolts and not reuseable.I had my TEA heads milled down to a 59 CC chamber and used Cometic .040 gaskets for and nice tight quench and a 11.4 - 1 ratio. There is nothing wrong with the OEM gaskets I was looking to raise my compression for a specific build that I was doing.
The head swap article at LSTechowto is useful.
Consider removing the water pump (have new gaskets) as it allows you to get more coolant out of the motor.
Do allow plenty of time to get the coolant out of the bolt holes - leaving coolant in those can be a fatal error as the steam can crack the block.
Do clean the threads in the bolt holes - grinding flats on one of the used bolts for this purpose as suggested in the LSTechhowto article works well.
Do take your time cleaning the block surface using non-abrasive tools (plastic not metal).
Consider removing the water pump (have new gaskets) as it allows you to get more coolant out of the motor.
Do allow plenty of time to get the coolant out of the bolt holes - leaving coolant in those can be a fatal error as the steam can crack the block.
Do clean the threads in the bolt holes - grinding flats on one of the used bolts for this purpose as suggested in the LSTechhowto article works well.
Do take your time cleaning the block surface using non-abrasive tools (plastic not metal).
I'd run new GM head bolts and GM gaskets. I may just be fickle, but I don't like the idea of changing the clamping load around the cylinder bores unless I hone the bores for that fastener.
