4 replies to this topic

[StuTheGimp]

Hi all,

 

Just got my engine block back from an engineering shop. The engine had done 85k miles and blew a couple of piston rings, so I've had the bores honed and new pistons etc fitted. The head looked ok so it wasn't sent for any work. I'm putting it all back together with new studs and nuts and I've done the head nuts up slowly in the correct pattern to 25, then 35, then 45ft/lbs as was recommended. I've filled it up with coolant and it's started weeping out in 4 or 5 places from around the head gasket. I've had to tighten the nuts up to 60ft/lbs to stop it leaking. I'm assuming this is too much? Do I need to take it all apart again and send the head off to have the face milled flat? Any advice appreciated.

 

Thanks,

 

Stu

[nicklouse]

Sounds like you should have had the head checked for flatness.

 

your old studs and nuts would have been fine and better quality.

 

over torquing the nuts risks snapping the struts and crushing the head gasket to failure.

 

you also don’t say what studs and nuts you bought and did you torque lubed or dry?

[Steve220]

What headgasket is it?

[StuTheGimp]

I went with the Minispares competition stud & nut.kit and followed the fitting instructions in the pack: studs went into the block dry & finger tight. Top threads had a small amount of oil and oiled the base of the nuts. 

 

Gasket is a "Payen stamped AF470, Standard composite reinforced gasket", 

 

Sounds like I need to take it to bits and send the head away then.

 

Thanks.

Edited by StuTheGimp, 12 April 2025 - 10:29 PM.

[brivinci]

It could be an issue with the block, more likely the head. That said, heads don't typically warp on their own. Did the motor suffer any overheating prior to dismantling?