S2Dan

Just after some advice on what head bolts to use? The engine is a 1900 CVH tall block, gona be pushing around 250bhp. Looking at ARP for this engine, what are your views.

Also for torquing up the head bolts, what settings do you use, standard settings, or should i up the torque?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Rob_DOHC

iTrader: (4)

Dont up the torque, arp's are pointless for head bolts. Standard ford are still reputed to be the best for the job.

There is a user called Canada1 who maybe able to tell you if the bolts are the same diameter and length as the uk 1600 but only if its a proper tall block!

Hope that helps

Rob,

S2Dan

Ok mate thanks, so keep to the standard ford settings then.

TBH the bolts used previously were normal looking head bolts, but good point about the length and diameter, i have to measure up the old ones so i get like for like.

The block is a genuine american tall block, i might have to ask that bloke if i get stuck.

Cheers

Rob_DOHC

iTrader: (4)

Good stuff, i would only use a gen ford gasket and bolts too.

Rob,

S2Dan

Can you get a genuine ford gasket for the A.T.B 1900 over here? Found an american gasket supplier via a tuner, who supply a steel gasket, which is the correct bore size for that block. Its alright using this lump, but when it comes to gettin parts lol.

Cheers

Rob_DOHC

iTrader: (4)

Yea i can imagine its a pain in the arse! To be honest im not sure what gasket is best as I've never used a 1900.

Canada1

Use the standard 1.6 turbo head gasket on the tall 1.9.
The Felpro one for the 1.9 is not a great part - bore size of the gasket is very large - not good for boosted engine.

Standard head bolts are fine - provided they are never re-used. Always use new ones.

The ARP studs when used correctly are far better than the standard Ford stretch bolts.
The failures I have seen are from incorrect torquing and missing the critical re-torquing after a heat cycle. As the ARP bolts are not in the "plastic" state (which standard bolts are, thus not being able to re-use) you MUST retorque. Most failures occur because the head studs were not re-torqued after a heat cycle.
After a heat cycle the head gasket compresses some, and the head studs lose their correct clamping load. This is why re-torquing is a necessary step.
Use ARP lube on threads and torque to 60 lb ft. ( make sure you have a calibrated torque wrench )

Again, standard stretch bolts work very well (new ones) and have been proven to be fine at 250 HP levels.

ARP bolts are overkill. Why use racing hardware on a low power street engine?

Just my 2 pence.

Cheers

Perry

mattseries2

iTrader: (1)

Cant go wrong with standard bolts and gasket Plus you will save yourself a fair bit of money!

Rob_DOHC

iTrader: (4)

Good to know about the ARP's Perry, amazing what gets a bad rep on the internet for a silly reason!

Rob,

S2Dan

Thanks Perry, yeah on that note i recon i will use standard head bolts, as it not like its gona be pushin over 300bhp. Only thing i need to find out is if the 1.6 CVH standard head bolts are the same as the A.T.B 1.9 CVH. I will have to have a measure up.

I had a felpro on there before, and your right, the bore size is slightly off. Managned to find a gasket supplier that do one which has the exact correct bore size for A.T.B 1.9. So fingers crossed its gona be a good one.

Thanks alot for the advice, its much appreciated.

Cheers

Canada1

Yes I believe the standard 1.9 head bolts are the same as the 1.6.

The standard 1.9 stretch bolts I have are: 130.8mm long (threaded and non threaded shank up to the bottom of the head.
Overall length 141.5mm

I am using the standard Ford 1.6 RST head gasket - The gasket bore size is 83mm, and I have a bore size of 82.5mm.

Cheers

Rick

Whilst I agree with the theory of the ARP's being better, I could never use them on a CVH.

Christian had a failure, and I know he is anal when it comes to re-torquing etc, and Richie/Projectrs had a failure when I was out mapping at around 2 bar. Since then on std bolts the car has seen 2.5 bar regularly and there has been no issue.

Rick

Oranoco

Standard bolts on mine too I drive really slowly though and never give the car stick

Canada1

Hello Rick,

You can certainly use whatever engine fastener suits your use.
Regarding Christians "failure":
He changed to ARP head studs and Cometic head gaskets at the same time.
He did not re-skim the head and block before the installation of the Cometic metal gaskets. These Cometic gaskets require a very fine surface finish - much finer than is
normally done. I saw the pictures of Christians build, and I do not know why such a knowledgeable fellow did not have the surfaces machined correctly for the Cometic gasket. The head gasket failed! Not because of the ARP studs.

S2Dan

That is the same bore size as my block, give or take. I was using the felpro head gasket before.

I have measured the head bolts i have taken off, and these are my measurements, see pic below. Do these dimensions point to standard RST 1.6 head bolts?



Cheers

S2Dan

Just asked about, and thoes head bolts pictured above are standard RST 1.6 ones. SO will order up a set of standards. Is there any preference between a head bolt with a hex head or a cap head?

Cheers

Rob_DOHC

iTrader: (4)

Yep, multi point hex head is genuine ford. Why buy any thing less?

Rob,

S2Dan

Yeah i hear what your saying mate. I just want a bolt as pictured in the pic tbh. Then there will be no drama when it comes to puttin it back together lol

Cheers mate