scottysnewsaff

i am doing my head gasket tomorrow on my 2wd saff i need to know the torque settings and sequence for the head bolts and any nice tips anyone wants to give me cheeRS

daz1968

I cannot remember torque settings and tightening order, but I will say that you need to keep a couple of old bolts, hacksaw the heads off file a nice chamfer on them and saw a slot in the top, makes it easy to locate the head, also do check the head for flatness if it is being changed due to blowing as the head may need a little skim, better to find out now rather than have to do it all again in a few weeks.

scottysnewsaff

cheeRS any ideas for the timing?

tabetha

Use a group a headgasket minimum and do not oil the threads, use a ARP STUD & NUT KIT.
Do not be temted to overtorque just for luck, and without a doubt get it skimmed or at least checked, as well as valve guides etc if done any miles.
Torque setting is
STAGE 1 20-25NM
STAGE 2 45-50NM
STAGE 3 ROTATE FURTHER 170-180 DEGREES
Put the exhaust manifold on first before fitting head as it is a roya pain in the a**e to do on car.
Squeeze exhaust manifold nuts in vice gently to slightly mishape so they grip better and saves buying new ones, although they are quite cheap.
Tightening sequence is
numbered front to rear on offside cam 9,5,1,3,7
numbered front to rear on n'side cam 8,4,2,6,10
obviously start at 1 and go up to ten in the torque stages mentioned.
Another tip is if you have a std ford head gasket, DON'T BOTHER FITTING IT, waste of time unless you drive like a grandad!!
tabetha

scottysnewsaff

cheeRS matey have bought a grp a one as i will be going stage 3 once the gasket is on and 22psi would you just blow a standard one to bits, whats the best way about going on with the timing?
cheeRS scott

rabmc

Just bought a group a cometic one , and its working a treat at teh moment going for 300+bhp 25psi kind of stuff

rapidcossie

so let me get this right...

you are doing the head gasket in the morning and you have no clue what you are doing?


bit late to start to gather the info you need is it not?

no wonder so many cossie gaskets last for about 5 mins


Good luck with it mate

rabmc

Must admit was thinking roughly the same , i was reading the cosworth manual in the bath for gods sake

I know the tourqe settings like i know my.... ehh dont know but i know them well , + i had someone else who knew better then me , be careful mate , get everything as clean and as dry as you can get them , what bolts are you using mate

slowpoke

will be doing mine soon, have been told by quite a few people though to use a cometic gasket and just std head bolts ?

Matt

rabmc

Get genuine ford/cosworth ones kxa printed on the top , got mine via woodford garage grp a cometic is the boy

scottysnewsaff

thats the ones i have from woodford garage, yes i know what am doin, my mate who has the mental desert storm escos is supposed to be helpin me but just incase he dosent i thought i would get some tips as i've never actually done a cossie head cheeRS for the help

tabetha

Cossies are about the easiest car in the world to maintain and work on as they are so basic.
One tip I fogot to mention is leave the head for twenty minutes between the SECOND AND THIRD STAGE before the final angle tighten.
Group a ones are made by VICTOR REINZ and will have YBO611 stamped on front upper surface, these german gaskets are ace, they also do a ONE PIECE METAL for certain cars.
Cossies are not hard there are just so many bodgers out there though, the technology is like from the dark ages compared to modern cars, but it is effective and should hold no fear.
Make sure you give the block a good crape to get any old gasket crap off.
I put two rods of metal down two holes to locate when refitting head, long enough to simply pull out when other bolts are in.
There are some crap gaskets about though expensive made by JEWSA which are spanish or italian in origin and are not even worth bothering with, not 100% sure on spelling as never used one myself.
Cometics new alloy foam inlet gaskets are ace and reusable, but I use LOCTITE 5910, and do not use any inlet gaskets anywhere, but it is up to you, this stuff can be used anywhere other than fuel items, and is yet to fail on anything I have ever done with it.
It would be a good idea also to fit new CAM SEALS, if not already done so, but make sure they are VITON so they last, they do not have to be scrolled though.
Size is 35 x 47 x 7 for the seals, make sure also you use sealant around/under the front cam caps.
tabetha

scottysnewsaff

got it done guys cheeRS

rapidcossie

well done mate

tabetha

Good on you, mucho "respek", from mem to you for that!!
I love to see people doing their own stuff on cars, so satisfying to know it is all your own work, and a few pennies richer too.
tabetha

slowpoke

ok, for someone not THAT competent, ie i can do pads / discs etc how hard is it to do a cossie head gasket ?

the one thing that scares me most is getting the cams etc back in the right place again

Matt

tabetha

Cam timing is a doddle, as is dizzy/crank.
They are all marked clearly, this is BLUE PETER stuff really!!
The cams are keyed to the wheels(pulley) with pointers on them facing the DOTS punched on the head front face, dizzy faces a scribed line, crank has marking for TDC.
Not the mystery some would have you beleive, some unscrupulous garages might try to scare people into letting the "experts" do it for you.
There are loads of people on here only too glad to help out a fellow cossie owner, or anyone else for that matter.
tabetha

dave green

ONE THING I WOULD MENTION, HOPE YOU HAVE A BIT OF HELP TO LIFT THE HEAD COS THEY ARE VERY HEAVEY, THATS IF YOU LEAVE THE MANIFOLDS ON AS MOST OF US DO


DAVE

tabetha

Aren't they just, need another pair of hands to be comfy with head, as said best leave manifold on as it is a pig to get of otherwise on car.
tabetha

Twellsie

iTrader: (1)

i must admit i got my head back at the weekend after having it skimmed and i am not looking forward to putting it back together

scottysnewsaff

come on if i can do the head gasket anyone can but dont make the same mistake i did and not get the head checked as i have just had to take it off again today coz its cracked aaarrrgghhh!! lol never mind at least i can do it blind folded now think av found a head so not that bad