96 Z-Ragtop

Hey guys, I am going to be putting my new heads ( AFR 195 Elimators-old style ) on the 355 tomorrow night. Being a newb to engine building I have read some horror stories about head stud leaking. Being that I am going with ARP head bolts do I need to use a sealant with bolts? Or not?

If so what do you guys recommend?

95Blackhawk

I used ARP thread sealant and every single one of my threads leaked. Ultimately, I had to clean each one and use teflon tape. All is now good.

I suggest teflon tape because that is not the first time it has worked for me.

camaro1fastz28

i used the liquid teflon paste and have no promblems

shoebox

Yes, you want to use sealant on the bolts. Permatex high temp thread sealant is what I have been using.

mad95z

Permatex #80632 thread sealing paste works great.

94zgreenmachine

The bolts pass into coolant passages. I never had a problem using the ARP sealant. I wanted to try the permatex stuff this time around but my local Autozone didn't have it so I used my ARP sealant, again.

DirtyDaveW

ARP site has specific torque levels, differentiating between 30wt oil and ARP lube. The differences are large (ex: 30wt = 65ft lbs, ARP Lube = 45ft lbs for a given ARP bolt, not necessarily for our LT1's). My question is, since we have to seal the bolts, can we really use oil OR ARP lube? I would think not. So, what do we torque them to?
THanks,
DAve

Green96Z

You put sealant on the threads, and then oil/lube on the UNDERSIDE of the bolt head and washer, not on the threads. Or in the case of the OP, under the nuts. I went with bolts and have no leaks.