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Posted

Hi all.

 

As the 230 supposed to have its head retorqued as a maintenance item? Were any Mopar flatheads?

 

I am not sure mine was ever done and I have no issues.

Posted

heads are retorqued when they are reinstalled to assure equal clamping across the surfaces. Provides for good seal, and prevents warping.  The process should be done after the engine is run up to operating temp for the first time after reassembly.  The procedure needs to be done in the sequence show in the service manual.

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Posted

not a maintenance item.as greg said, done when putting a head back on after a rebuild or whenever replacing a head gasket. go by the procedure in the manual. if no issues, leave it alone. easy to do when needed. you must of course have a torque wrench. capt den

Posted

Some of the new head gaskets (blue on one side) are no retorque but all the others should be retightened as noted above.

Posted

I don't know about blue head gaskets, because I always used Copper ones, however, above advice omits what my Service Manual States:

1942-1948 Chrysler C28 - C40 That I found to be true also.

Major Tune Ups: Page 110 #2. "Tighten Cylinder Head and Manifold Bolts while Engine is warm.

Re-torque the Head Bolts with a Torque Wrench, See Tightening Reference in Service Standards, Section XVI".

This Reference instructs the Mechanic to tighten Bolts in correct sequence. 

I wouldn't just do an engine job, and forget all about the Head Bolts from then on because they can loosen up over time.

43 years of experience has taught me that. I put Rings in my 1948 Chrysler Royal's 250.6 at Christmas 2015. I had to torque (cold) re-torque warm over a two week period twice.

On the third try weeks later I saw that they were holding torque. Things aren't always what they seem sometimes. A cold garage while rebuilding etc., etc.

Never assume anything with these old engines. You know the true definition of the word assume (It will make an ass out of u and me.

Tom

Posted

curious. why would the type of head gasket eliminate retorque? capt den

head gasket compounds have changed over the years. .  Gasket manufacturer's instructions take priority over the service manuals in  this case since they're the ones who developed the gasket for the application.  service manuals were written or the gaskets available at the time of engine manufacture.  The blue coating is some type of sealer and torqueing hot causes some kind of sealer breakdown or squeezes the sealer out.  It's been a while since I've used them so the exact reason for not torqueing hot is partially forgotten. I do remember them saying that IF you must retorque, it is to be done with the engine cold.

Posted

Dave72dt,

Please read your Service Manual. The Section is right after Minor Tune Ups, Head Bolts go loose over time. In the old days we just used grease for head gasket sealer.

You do what you want to do, but 43 years of experience has shown me otherwise, Blue on a Head Gasket isn't a reason to pitch your Manual in the garbage can. Head Gaskets and

their sealers have nothing to do with Head Bolts needing a re-Torque. I referenced the page and Item number for you.

Or you can just assume. See definition for assume above. L.O.L. Don't go getting sensitive on me now. It hurts not a thing to check your Head Bolts every 10,000 miles or so.

Aluminum Heads - Cold. Cast Iron Heads - Warm. I can read. I feel like Charlotte the pig in the Movie Charlotte's Web. I can talk. Thanks for entertaining me.

Tom

Posted

I also have 40 plus years as a professional mechanic. 

The blue ones are different.  Ask the gasket manufacturer about them. get on their hotline and ask the tech.  No I don't throw the service manuals away.  They're a wealth of information but they're not the latest information out there either.  Those blue covered gaskets weren't made when those manuals were written.  There were other tricks used back then to seal them up.  I know grease was used but never thought it was a proper sealer for a professional to use.   Aluminum paint, shellac and one you may not have heard of, soaking those asbestos sandwich style gaskets in water for about ten minutes before installing.  You probably won't be finding those blue gasket available for these flatheads.  What you likely will find are the same style gaskets that were used back then so definitely, yes follow the manual .  It's relevant for those gaskets.  Not for the blue Permatorques.

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