Like the subject says, I went against the manual and did not use thread sealer on the head bolts. I wire-wheeled the old bolts and replaced them as there was no sealant on them from what I could tell. Is it crucial that I go back and do this (replacing the head gasket as well, I take it)? The cam and heads swap has perhaps ~270 miles (215 of those in one sitting) on it thus far.

There is a bit of a tick at times and so I am going to drive the car home (215 more mi.) and take off the intake and replace the pushrods and lifters (as they are still stock), but there are no other issues that I am aware of. I know the rockers are adjusted properly as I have re-done them thrice now. All seems to function properly at the current time. I have not really gotten on it or anything, but the car runs fine.

Thoughts?

Matt

 

You can remove replace them one at a time and use the thread seal - but I really wouldn't reuse the stock head bolts twice. If you take them out again, replace them with new ones and use thread seal.

 

Thank you very much! I was not ready to pull the heads off again any time soon.

Matt

 

Do you need sealant on all the head bolts or just the bottom ones under the exhaust manifold?

 

Mine had scale and crap on most all of them and the manual did not specify any specific ones, so I would say yes.

 

ok, thanks

 

when you take them off to put new bolts/sealant on make sure you go in the order you take them off/put them on. Or else you'll put too much strain on the head. I hope you did that right?

Also just put sealant on all of them, but only the bottom bolts & the side ones on tope which are shorter then the tall ones but longer then the short ones, they are on the side, one of them is bolt #17 the other is I think 12 or something.

 

Indeed, I followed the manual for torque specs and order and everything.

 

all the bolts need sealant on them except for the top 4. top 4 go into blind holes, rest go into the water jackets.