Head bolts
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 601
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From: Jacksonville FL
Car: 1988 camaro
Engine: cammed 3.1
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt 3.42
Head bolts
Well being this is my first engine build I made the mistake of not putting sealant on the headbolts
now what i was do the headbolts under the valve covers go into the water jacket and would it be ok to leave without sealant i already know all the ones along the bottom near the exhaust manifolds go into the water jacket just not sure on the ones under the covers
now what i was do the headbolts under the valve covers go into the water jacket and would it be ok to leave without sealant i already know all the ones along the bottom near the exhaust manifolds go into the water jacket just not sure on the ones under the covers 
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 18,432
Likes: 235
From: Chasing Electrons
Car: check
Engine: check
Transmission: check
Re: Head bolts
IIRC they all go into the water jacket. Remove one bolt, put sealant on it, and torque it back down. Then go to the next bolt and do the same. After each bolt is R&R'd mark the bolt head with a sharpie or paint dap so that you don't miss any.
Be sure to drain the coolant before doing this.
RBob.
Be sure to drain the coolant before doing this.
RBob.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 601
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
Car: 1988 camaro
Engine: cammed 3.1
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt 3.42
Re: Head bolts
IIRC they all go into the water jacket. Remove one bolt, put sealant on it, and torque it back down. Then go to the next bolt and do the same. After each bolt is R&R'd mark the bolt head with a sharpie or paint dap so that you don't miss any.
Be sure to drain the coolant before doing this.
RBob.
Be sure to drain the coolant before doing this.
RBob.
Do i need to remove the rockers to loosen the ones under the covers?
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iTrader: (1)
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 18,432
Likes: 235
From: Chasing Electrons
Car: check
Engine: check
Transmission: check
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 46
From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
I don't know how many SBC's I put together before I found out the head bolt threads were supposed to have sealant. Never had a problem because of it.
If you aren't getting water into the valve cover area, most likely it never will.
If you aren't getting water into the valve cover area, most likely it never will.
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