Thread: cracked head or head gskt???

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yes RTV works good for bolts. but i use stud some times they move abit when torque so they may brake any seal and with rtv. i think the teflon dope ropes in the stud or bolt better and never sets up. i use the aviation form-a-gasket to but i will not use the ARP thread sealer this stuff is not as good as teflon dope or aviation form-a-gasket

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

but i will not use the ARP thread sealer this stuff is not as good as teflon dope or aviation form-a-gasket

Dammit Pat, now you've scared me. When I built my last performance engine over 40 years ago, the choices were simpler. Permatex or plumbers dope. Non-hardening Permatex was the easy answer. I've used RTV on the various stockers I've rebuilt through the last 40 years, but I'm a lot more concerned with how I put my 355 SBC together. I had decided on ARP lube/sealer on the open holes because of the following. ARP is a conscientious company. I figure the friction coefficient on the sealer has to be very similar to their plain lube. Therefore, torque readings would be more consistant. Consistant torque readings should lead to the least likelyhood of head gasket failure.

You have put together a lot of serious engines and along with some others on this list, I respect your opinions very highly. Are your feelings about ARP sealer based on multiple problems? Have others had bad experiences with it? Inquiring minds want to know!

Art

I may be old, but I still remember the zipper goes in front.

yes i have used the ARP on open head bolt deck blocks. I had is break down by the anti-freeze. they have a oil base to it .it seams that it just did not work as good as RTV or pipe dope or permatex with studs. all most all of the studs wick thru . i was not happy seening this.it was my engine i just rebuilt it and wash all the black sticky poop off (permatex) the studs and said to myself there must be something better? ARP thread sealer?.i will point out that studs can be a big pain in the back side and some time one or two may leak with permatex or with pipe dope .but just about all of them where leaking with the ARP i have gone back to permatex on studs and bolts or pipe dope.i have not seen any thing like that happen again . it may work for someone else ?but it did not work for me . so i can not tell someone to use it .i put the dope or permatex on the threads and then i put some 30 wt oil on the shoulder of the head bolt . i do things a bit deferent with studs. but this seam to work for me . and of coarse if it tells me to use molly then i will use that and not the oil . this is not to say ARP stuff is junk no. i think they make some fine fasteners but permatex hase been making sticky stuff longer and better

I just knew there was a reason I haven't put it together yet besides the weird weather we've been having in SoCal.

Art