[96StAnG5.0]

I have a 302 with GT40X alum heads that were previously on a 351w (I have those special washers to adapt to the 302) and ARP head bolts (Part# 154-3601) with Felpro Race gaskets(Part# 154-3601..The Arp package came with a Torque sheet saying to torque to 70LB in 3 steps, instead of the stock 80LB because there non stretch bolts...Well I Torque them in sequence like this..

7 3 1 5 9
o o o o o
o o o o o
8 4 2 6 10

(Circles the bolt holes and your looking at DS head from the DS fender)

I use the ARP lub that came with the package so tell me why i BROKE #2 bolt into the block!?!?!?!? So,my dad being the best father in the world (at that moment lol) was able to take the bolt out.I went and bought another ARP bolt package the same part number (154-3601) and did the same thing all over again,im setting the torque wrench to 25 tighten them down,then 50 and last 70.. I get to the #2 bolt it feels like it dosent want to tighten.I kept toward the others and I snap another bolt #10 near the damn brake booster!!

What am I doing wrong? Am I useing the wrong bolts or is 70LB's too much for Aluminum heads? I need help!

[johnGT]

Are you using assembly lube on the bolt ends?

[mikeracing]

check your torque wrench or buy another 70ftlbs is nothing really for arp bolts i think you are getting a missed reading on the torque wrench

ps only ever use a torque wrench for torqueing bolts not breaking them loose

[furreal302]

Clean your bolt hole out. I've actually had to grind a few mm off the end of a head bolt because of junk at the bottom of the hole the kept it from going all the way in.

[96StAnG5.0]

John GT- First time I used that anti seized stuff because I was reusing my ARP bolts they only been on the car for about 1500 miles and they said you can reuse them..

MikeRacing-Yea the Torque Wrench is new,I borrowed it from Autozone and it was brand new still in the plastic.Its weird,the uppers I can get to 70LB but the lowers were only torqueing to about 65LB.. Should I do 70 top and 65 lower? I will take one bolt and put anti seize on it and run it through all the bolt holes and make sure there lubed up..

FurrealGT-Dosent sound to bad,im gona take a air hose and see if I can blow that crap thats in there if any,damn I just want to start the car and go..

Oh yea,does it matter which side the heads go on? Because they say no left or right on them...

[mikeracing]

if you are breaking the bolts off then theres a serious problem with either the bolts or the torque wrench you can check the wrench by using a fish scale and holding the socket end in a vice tourque is force x lever arm=torque so if you apply 35lbs of force and the wrench is 2 ft long

[mikeracing]

if your bolts are bottoming out you would be reaching your max torque before clamping the head and i reccomend using oil just like arp wants

[95opal]

Originally Posted by mikeracing if your bolts are bottoming out you would be reaching your max torque before clamping the head and i reccomend using oil just like arp wants

+1 lightly oil the threads when you install them

[Stdyhand]

I would suspect the bolt is bottoming out. Maybe you can use a caliper to check the depth of the bolt hole vs. the length of the bolt to see if it is just slightly off. It might not work but it's worth checking.

Otherwise I'd get a different torque wrench. It may look new but if you borrowed it from autozone surely it's seen some use. I don't get anything from autozone anymore because I once tried to use one of their ball joint presses and 3 jaw puller and both were bent or had stripped threads. They just don't have quality tools in their rent-a-tool and some customers do not take care of stuff.

[96StAnG5.0]

Ok so I have a New torque Wrench from autozone i mean NEW never been used and im going to attempt it one more time,I broke the lower bolts 2 times already in 2 different spots I called ARP and they said to torque em to 70 pounds nop matter if its a Alum head or Cast Iron Ill let you guys know if I have any luck on Torqueing them...

[96StAnG5.0]

Well I was pushing for 70 all across and the lower bolts felt like they were gettting loose..So from me breaking 2 bolts already,i backed it out a little and was able to torque the uppers to 70LB and the lowers to 67LB so I think I should be fine reading that people have been torqueing these heads 70 top and 65 lower so 3 pounds shouldnt make that much of a difference I hope...