254 timing and head torque

Unknown

well i got my sb chrysler distributor all built and put in and fired up the ole 254 .. wow fired up without me moving anything! now i need to time it and have no specs on timing on the 254 .

while it was running , the overflow tube started spitting out foam (probally because i added barrs leak because my radiator is like swiss cheese ) so to me that sounded like a blown head gasket, was missing too . so i pulled the head off and will take it to the shop and vat and mill it monday .

so i need timing specs and head bolt torque.

thanks

mike

Geoff

According to tune-up manual, timing should be at t.d.c., but with modern high octane fuel, you would probably be better to set it to 2-3 teeth b.t.d.c. Head nut torque, those old 8 cylinder blocks are not that robust, I would not tighten over 60 lbs.

Geoff.

Unknown

thanks Geoff

mike

Uncle Josh

Yipe! The specs for the 8 are 45-50 ft-lbs.

After running it up to temperature,

Retorque hot if it's a cast iron head.

Retorque cold if it's aluminum.

The torque sequence is in the manual, but generally it's from the center to the outside alternating ends. Do it in about 10 ft-lb at a time.

Geoff

Uncle Josh wrote:

Yipe! The specs for the 8 are 45-50 ft-lbs.

After running it up to temperature,

Retorque hot if it's a cast iron head.

Retorque cold if it's aluminum.

The torque sequence is in the manual, but generally it's from the center to the outside alternating ends. Do it in about 10 ft-lb at a time.

Of course you are right on that figure! How did I make a typing mistake like that, and not proof read it???? 45-50 pounds max for the head nuts. These are nuts on to studs, and not a lot of thread contact area.

Geoff.

Unknown

thanks everyone ...

mike