Anyone else have troubles with the intake bolts comming loose with aluminum heads?

I am running a stock TPI base (1986) with edelbrock heads. I am using the stock torx bolts.

Not want to gaul the threads in my new heads, I coated the bolts with anti sieze as I did with any bolt going into aluminum.

I torque it to the correct spec. Every 6 months they have come loose. I started to put a blotch of paint on the bolts so I could monitor the progress.

So ... anyone else experience this?

Can I use thread lock on aluminum heads and be able to take it apart later without wrecking the heads?

Or do I just have to keep re-torquing things.

Mark.

 

I use ARP thread sealant for the intake-to-head bolts. The holes are exposed to oil from the lifter gallery, if you don't seal them you tend to get annoying seepage.

I'm running alum heads also, no problems with thread damage or loosening.

-Kevin

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1982 Z-28

See http://www.mycar.net/mafb/registry/detail.cfm?id=276 for details

 

I use liquid teflon on the intake bolts which as Kev said keep from leaking, and seem to keep them tight, not backing out as much.


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http://members.home.net/regulators/kevg.html
-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

liquid teflon here too

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ICON Motorsports

1st & 3rd

 

I have liquid telflon. I could try that.

With my edelbrock heads, none of the intake bolts actually contact any oil since on the heads, each bolt hole is tapped into aluminum and none are exposed. Rather simple fix the GM age old problem of oil leaking up the bolt holes.

I recall when I put it together, I Was ready with the liquid teflon and noticed there was no need to use.

Perhaps the liquid teflon will be both an anti seeze and a thread lock.

Mark.

 

Loc-Tite PST sealant....

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Later,
Vader
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"I'm'a do Things My Way - It's My way or the Highway."
Adobe Acrobat Reader

 

I'm using the same combination; stock manifold base and Edelbrock heads and have not had any loosening in well over a year.

What torque setting are you using?

When I install the manifold, I torque them to 35 psi then wait an hour or more and then retorque them. In that time period, the gasket takes a 'set' and sometimes the bolts will not hold the torque until they do. On other engines, I've had to retorque the manifold bolts a few times until they finally hold the torque.

I use Permatex anti-seize too and stock torx head bolts.

It could be the type of gasket material you chose. Some are more compressable than others. I use either Mr. Gasket Ultra Seals or Fel Pros.

Hope this helps.

Jake

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

 

Well I went out and re-torqued my intake. 5 bolts were really loose! Basically all the outter ones (4 furthest corners). It took about 1/10 of a turn to get it back to 30 ft-lbs.

Actually every bolt took a bit of a turn to get back to spec. So re-torquing your intake is a good idea if you have aluminum heads!

Here's to a good dry summer! (engine leaks that is).

Mark.

 

I have cast iron, and re-torqued mine 3 times to get a set!

The first time I was a little lazy on, but I found I could losen the bolts with my fingers!!!

Could stainless bolts have something to do with it? I used fel-pros....