Club 80-90 Forums

Ladies and gents.
I have just refitted my AAZ cylinder head with two hole head gasket.
I flattened the head on a glass plate with 1500 grit paper and checked with straight edge. Perfectly flat.
Cleaned out bolt holes and oiled new bolts as per manual .
I have tightened bolts to stage three (40nm /60nm/90 degrees) but cannot for the life of me get the final stage 4 90 degrees. The bolts are tight down and feel like they'll snap if I put any more on.

My first question is, has anyone else come across this problem when changing to a thicker two hole gasket without having the head skimmed professionally?

Second question. When I took off the camshaft sprocket i noticed the cam had a woodruff slot but the sprocket had no corresponding slot.
Is this right?
I have tightened it up and its all back together. book recommended 25nm but i've done it up a bit more than that..about 60nm

Second question. When I took off the camshaft sprocket i noticed the cam had a woodruff slot but the sprocket had no corresponding slot.
Is this right?
I have tightened it up and its all back together. book recommended 25nm but i've done it up a bit more than that..about 60nm

Yes that's right, the alignemt is the cam setting and pum sprocket hole and belt etc. (as you did before, but not having had the camsprocket off)

Head studs
If they all went up to 90 deg and felt OK, I wouldn't do the next stage, which I think anyway is meant for post running and warmup or even post 500miles... pretty sure I just did one 90 degree and she's still fine on HG...

Andy Simpson, Russel or Simon will agree/disagree... confirm.deny

Hi Clive how are you?
Long time no speak!

Thanks for the prompt reply..I think I'm inclined to agree with you about the head bolts. They feel bloody tight and I tried to get just a bit more on them and they started to ping!...time to stop me thinks.

The 2nd 90 degree turn will require a bit of effort but i would defo go for it, you did not put any oil in the bolts holes did you? Other possibility is faulty torque wrench and you over tightened on stage 1 and 2 (Clive knows all about this)You were corect to over tighten the cam bolt the recommended torque is not enough.

tiny sliver of oil on the bolts not down the threads.....will attempt again tomorrow.

Cheers Andy and Clive.

Hi Lee, we're fine thanks, and the engine's starting and running as reliably as I had hoped it would

Best of luck with that...

Used cotton buds down the bolt holes. Actually soaked my bolts overnight in engine oil, drained them on a tray for 15 minutes or so and held breath on every single one (having had trouble previously). Three of them are helicoiled!

Ok, managed to get the last stage to 45 degrees...just couldn't get them to go any further..maybe a factor of two hole gasket and a non skimmed head.
Anyway..all finished and up and running again. Slight oil leak from turbo oil pipe but nipped up fine and she runs like a dream. Definite improvement in pick up and no smoke!

Cheers fellas!