Ok so I have a head gasket leak after a fresh rebuild. Machine shop long blocked the engine. The first time the leak showed up was after driving the car about 15 miles. Called machine shop they told me to let it idle in driveway for 30 or 40 minutes to see if they seal up. Explaination was the aluminum and cast will move around while heating and cooling. I did that and the leak went away for about 4 days of driving. The car has been runnign like crap and was going to get it tuned on monday. Was checking the plug wires and noticed the head gasket leak is back. It's a bad leak and it is on the left side by the bolt closest to the fire wall.

I'm guessing my builder will tell me to try and tighten the head bolt to see if it stops the leak. Should I try that and if I tighten one shouldn't I check the rest. Also What are the torque spec's?

 

I think the manifold bolts were 35ft/lbs. As for head bolts, they vary. Here's what I have found before on other forums.

'93, '94, & '95: 65 ft. lbs.
'96 & '97: 22 ft. lbs. plus an extra 80 degrees for long and medium bolts, an extra 67 degrees for the short

 

 

Make sure too tighten in the correct order as well. 4.125 bore?

 

Shoe you are the encyclopedia of lt1 man. Great site and great info I think I speak for everyone on the site. Just curious how did you become so knowledgeable about our cars?

 

When you rebuilt the engine did you have the heads checked for straightness and hardness checked?

 

Amen! Your site has saved me more times than I can count. The write ups have allowed me to take on projects that would have cost a lot of money and not had as much fun by taking it to a mechanic. Also my motor builder (boat)/mechanic doesn't like working on 4th gen Fbodies because of the tight fit. I just love how these cars look and perform. So Shoebox, thanks again man.

camz28ryan
Where in Oklahoma do you live? Who did your machine work and who is doing your tuning? I live on the south side of OKC and I am in the baby stages of starting a rebuild.

 

Reading and hands-on experience.

 

Amen!

 

Hey Makin Do,

The builder is Mikes Machine Shop on southside of okc, we went to high school together and has built eninges for me in the past. He's been building engines since "87", he used to race, but not sure he still does. The guy we use for tuning is in okc as well, he can idle tune or dino tune. He does the idle tune at his house. The cool thing about the tuner is after he tunes your car once you can go back later if you make any minor changes and he won't charge you. We live in Piedmont just nw of okc.

 

Just a update, builder told me he would send a wrecker after the car and he would fix everything in his shop. It sucks, but just one of those things. Even good builders with employees can mess up once and awhile. The important thing is he is going to do what ever it takes to make it right.