Ok, simple question. 350 motor with aluminum heads and I have ARP bolts. I know the bolt holes open into the water jackets. The local machine shop guru said to use anti-sieze. ARP says moly lube or 30wt. I know this is to get an accurate torque reading with oil, but how will it seal then? I am using GM gaskets also. Oh yeah, ARP says to torque to 60 ft.lbs also with their lube. Thanks for any input fellas!

 

for the head bolts i use teflon pipe sealer. i'd guess it would torque about the same as moly lube would.

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ICON Motorsports
1st & 3rd

 

You're going to need a thread sealer or chances are you'll end up with coolant in your oil in time.

Guys have different preferences as to what to use and different mag articles recommend different things too. So I guess you can choose your own poison.

I've used Permatex #2 (the dark brown, really gooey stuff) for over thirty years, with the stock recommended torque settings (those recommended by the bolt manufacturer). Haven't had a problem so I feel no need to change now.

Hope this helps.

Jake

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1986 Corvette Coupe, 415 CID, Edelbrock 6073s, ZZ9

 

Do you think that loctite 518 gasket eliminator would work? Its an anarobic sealer that I use when sealing crankcase halves on 2 stroke motors. Its also used on the threads of the crankcase screws to prevent air leaks.

 

I can't really add anything more to what the other guys said. Liquid teflon pipe thread sealant is the best way to go. You can get away with using RTV on the bolt threads(I did this a couple of times), but PTS is the best way to do it. You should do the same thing to your intake manifold base bolts as well. I've seen them pump oil or coolant onto the intake manifold surface lots of times.

 

Yes, use the pipe sealer. GM sells a liquid teflon pipe sealant, wich is what I use. Use that, and the factory torque specs, and you will be OK.

If you don't use a good sealant, you will have a coolant leak. My good friend Hank had to drop out of competition when his head bolt started spewing coolant from lack of sealer. Do it right the first time and forget about it.

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To throw in my penny, I'm a Permatex #2 guy myself.

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Thanks all, I used the permatex #2 just as suggested!