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sbc sealing head bolts

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by jan bogert, Apr 20, 2013.

  1. jan bogert
    Joined: Jul 11, 2011
    Posts: 655

    jan bogert
    Member

    putting new heads on my sbc. the new bolts just say to dip them in oil up to the hex head. nothing about sealing them. do i need to seal them? there wasn't any sealer on the old bolts. but a friend is saying seal them. just wondering why vthe directions don't call for it.
     
  2. who's directions are they? i'd give them a call

    it would seam to me that you should out some sealer on the threads
     
    1Nimrod likes this.
  3. what SBC is that? all 17 on both sides go into water
     
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  4. Ricky Bobby
    Joined: Mar 25, 2009
    Posts: 35

    Ricky Bobby
    Member

    I have used copper coat with good results over the years.
     
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  5. BOBCRMAN
    Joined: Nov 10, 2005
    Posts: 846

    BOBCRMAN
    Member
    from Holly

    <!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->
    SBC head bolt holes don't penetrate into any water jackets, so why seal them? No need to that I'm aware of.


    Evidently never built a SBC. ALL the head bolts must be sealed or you will have coolant leaks everywhere. :eek:
     
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  6. GOATROPER02
    Joined: Mar 22, 2006
    Posts: 2,059

    GOATROPER02
    Member
    from OHIO


    Stock block SBC's do have open end head bolt holes into the water jackets and need a sealer on the threads and a little oil under the head.

    Aftermarket blocks are blind holed.....
     
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  7. Ebbsspeed
    Joined: Nov 11, 2005
    Posts: 6,250

    Ebbsspeed
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I deleted my original post so as to not perpetuate incorrect info. What the heck was I thinking? It's been a 30+ years since I built an SBC, nothing in the shop but "oddball" engines since then.
     
  8. On the GM performance parts site......
    <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>
    [​IMG]
    </td> <td align="center" valign="bottom">
    </td><td valign="bottom">
    </td> <td>
    </td> </tr> <tr><td>
    [FONT=arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]12346004 - GM Pipe Sealant (50cc)[/SIZE][/FONT]​
    </td><td align="center" valign="bottom">
    </td><td>
    </td><td align="center" valign="bottom">
    </td></tr></tbody></table>

    <table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top">[FONT=arial,]
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [/FONT] </td> </tr> <tr><td> [FONT=arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1] For all cylinder head bolt threads. [/SIZE][/FONT] </td></tr><tr><td colspan="5">
    </td></tr></tbody></table>
     
  9. skidro69
    Joined: Jan 2, 2013
    Posts: 91

    skidro69
    Member
    from Dothan, AL

    Oil under the head of the bolt prevents binding while torquing the head bolts. A slight amount of sealer is needed on the threads to seal them.
    Also, you need sealer on the intake bolt threads. The 4 corners are the only intake bolts that have a bottom in them. This is a common mistake, it causes oil to leak from the 4 center bolts on old style SBC!
     
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  10. I use non hardening permatex on headbolts and intake bolts,never silicon cuz if you use silicon what do ya suppose happens to the seal when ya retorque the bolt...whammo...no more seal....jmho...
     
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  11. after buiding a water burning engine i went to permatex, end of problems never had any other problems
     
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  12. KJSR
    Joined: Mar 7, 2008
    Posts: 2,494

    KJSR
    Member
    from Utah
    1. Utah HAMBers

    Permatex thread sealer on each one. Just did it last night in fact!
     
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  13. tommyd
    Joined: Dec 10, 2010
    Posts: 11,948

    tommyd
    Member
    from South Indy

    NOW you tell me! Never thought about that so Ive' been lucky so far.
     
  14. You never axed...
     
  15. Larry T
    Joined: Nov 24, 2004
    Posts: 7,875

    Larry T
    Member

    I just oil the bolts and drop Delco cooling tabs in the radiator on first fire up.
     
  16. Wutter those? Tablets sold by Delco REmy to seal up yer coolin system? Do they ever plug up the works?
     
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  17. jan bogert
    Joined: Jul 11, 2011
    Posts: 655

    jan bogert
    Member

    ok guys, i'm going to pull the one head i installed, it's only torked to 60lbs, i can go to 65/70 when i reinstall it. time to put permanix thread sealer on them.
     
    1Nimrod likes this.
  18. I've heard of that before, forget what the GM part number is though, any parts counter should know it cold. I use a similar Solder Seal product on all fresh engines.

    I've always used either Permatex Aviation Sealer or Indian Head on all head and intake manifold bolts, have never had a water leak of any sort.

    Bob
     
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  19. unkledaddy
    Joined: Jul 21, 2006
    Posts: 2,865

    unkledaddy
    Member

    I hope I'm not in trouble using plumber's pipe thread dope on my SBC head bolts.
     
  20. 40FordGuy
    Joined: Mar 24, 2008
    Posts: 2,907

    40FordGuy
    Member

    Ditto , the permatex !!!


    4TTRUK
     
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  21. raengines
    Joined: Nov 6, 2010
    Posts: 227

    raengines
    Member
    from pa.


    that'll work fine too
     
  22. T Achilli
    Joined: Aug 25, 2009
    Posts: 239

    T Achilli
    Member
    from walworth

    X2 on the gm pipe sealant w/ Teflon. And the seal tabs we used to use on the aluminum block caddy motors in the late 80s early 90s to seal up coolant system....... But it usually turned the coolant to mud and plugged up heater cores.
     
  23. I wondered 'bout that....
     
  24. Larry T
    Joined: Nov 24, 2004
    Posts: 7,875

    Larry T
    Member

    I don't think they would put the sealer in at the factory if it plugged heater cores and caused problems.
     
  25. dabixman
    Joined: Oct 3, 2010
    Posts: 7

    dabixman
    Member

    Wheel bearing grease on the treads and torque to 65ft short bolts and 70ft long bolts. Done.
     
  26. no55mad
    Joined: Dec 15, 2006
    Posts: 1,956

    no55mad
    Member

    ACE Hardware carries some good non hardening pipe dope for boilers etc - worked good on SBC head bolts.

     
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  27. T Achilli
    Joined: Aug 25, 2009
    Posts: 239

    T Achilli
    Member
    from walworth

    I spent twelve years in gm dealers...... They don't think it will cause problems until it does....... Dexcool is an example...... Seal tabs were two brown tablets that you would crumble up and put in the coolant system of aluminum block gm engine after a coolant flush. These were to stop any leaks in there shitty sealing head gaskets, head bolts into coolant passages ,steel sleeve to aluminum block, ect ect. Instead of sealing the head gaskets it would clog up heater cores and customers would complain of little heat output. Some times you could back flush the crap out but most times core would need replacing.
     
  28. Larry T
    Joined: Nov 24, 2004
    Posts: 7,875

    Larry T
    Member

    I've owned an independent shop for 35 years (started in 1978), worked in other shops before that. I've dropped a couple of Delco tabs (ginger root) out of the six pack in every overhaul I've done for about half that time. Still do it, because I've never had any trouble with them. The aluminum powder and the old Bars leak in a bottle are a different story.

    Different strokes for different folks.
     
  29. jan bogert
    Joined: Jul 11, 2011
    Posts: 655

    jan bogert
    Member

    ok, so i used white permatex in a tube. i torked them to 65lbs. started motor, sounds great very healthy. but i noticed water out right exhaust pipe. no smoke, maybe one didn't seal. i had this problem with my flathead. any in-put welcome.
     

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