I have a an issue with them not staying tight ! Anyone else?

 

Hrm, I tightened mine about 9 months ago when I first installed them, and everything is still good. I honestly havent rechecked them since then. Do you have symptoms that make your check the bolts, or do you just happen to re-check them and notice they are loose?

 

I started leaking coolant were the head and block meet! I took off the heads and the last to bolts on the driver's side were not as tight. I bought new head gaskets and I will re-install them this week.

 

Which gaskets? Did you follow the procedures for the ARP bolts? Need a few more details..

 

i thought these were supposed to be re-torqued a few times after a few subsequent heat cycles...PITA!

...for those who enjoy wrenching so much you want to do the head bolts multiple times...!

 

Yup, I use the info on JimX how to site. I ordered the Fel Pro head gaskets from Speed Inc.

 

I never had problems and have replaced my heads a few times I'm guessing you are ussing the moly lube on the ARP's?
Here is how I do it.First torque them to 40ft/lbs,then 60,then 70lbs.Let car sit for over an hour and loosen them up and do it again,let it sit for 1/2 hour then go over them.Have never had a problem.

 

I will try it tonight!


Thanks

 

One old school trick is to do what SlowHawk suggested... After you torque, the gasket compresses slightly, and if you retorque several hours later, or even the next day, you'll see what I mean.

Torque your bolts according to JMX's specs, then, mark the head bolt with a line so you can see where the bolt head position WAS. Loosen, then retorque the bolts... you will notice that after the gasket has been compresses for several hours, the bolt head will be turned FURTHER than it's original position when you torque the second time, at an identical torque spec.

 

so do you loosen all the head nuts at one, or do you individually loosen them and retorque then one by one in sequence? I did that and noticed they TQed nicer the second time, also loosening all the nuts with coolant in the block isnt such a good idea..... also the heat cycle is something I do too.