torque

[tahoe healey]

I have the a little oil leak between the the head and the engine block on one side only. It is center above the dist. There is no leak into the coolant and I have great oil pressure. I have the head torqued to 75 lb per square foot (900 per square inch). My question is, can I safely go ten pounds higher on maybe 3 nuts and 5 on two nuts on either side to close any gap?

 

[Dave Russell]

A little problem with terminology - Torque is measured in foot pounds or in inch pounds. Pounds per square foot is not a measure of torque.

No, you cannot safely go 10 foot pounds higher. With unknown condition of the studs, nuts, & block threads you stand a chance of stripping or pulling the block threads. Even if you could, the uneven tightening could result in a damaged head, block, or gasket. Best to not mess with it.
D

 

[Michael Oritt]

"I have the a little oil leak between the the head and the engine block on one side only. It is center above the dist."

This, along with the characteristic oil leakage out of the rear of the engine and into the bellhousing, is part of the "Healey External Lubrication System" and is nothing to worry about. On the contrary, if you do NOT see any oil drips under your car THEN it is time to worry (Why do you think they put that cotter pin there in the first place?)

Best--Michael Oritt, 100 Le Mans

 

[CDK]

Dave as always has given right on tech advise.Michael has given right on common sense advise. Since you have taken time to think about fasteners, torque and the possiable out come it may be time for further research.Sorry I can not offer a quick link. Hunt around alittle and you might be surprised as to how much there is to learn on fasteners(not just nuts and bolts).It seems we can always just grab any old bolt and crank it down and make it work.There is however the correct way to make them work properly and safely. In the long run this will make working on things more enjoyable and rewarding.Good luck,there is alot to learn and it will take awile for it to become second nature .

 

[John Turney]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by tahoe healey:
I have the a little oil leak between the the head and the engine block on one side only. It is center above the dist. There is no leak into the coolant and I have great oil pressure. I have the head torqued to 75 lb per square foot (900 per square inch). My question is, can I safely go ten pounds higher on maybe 3 nuts and 5 on two nuts on either side to close any gap?<hr></blockquote>

Are you sure it's from between the head and the block? I recall some of the bolt holes for the rocker arm bolts penetrate to the outside of the head and are a source of leakage.

John, BN4

 

[tahoe healey]

John, How can one tell and does it have a cure and is it important?

 

[bob hughes]

As I see it, there are two alternatives,renew the head gasket, or give the area a wipe over with a rag from time to time. If you have recently renewed the gasket, there is no harm in running the old torque wrench over the head to check that all the nuts are at the correct setting as some degree of bedding in will occur. Frosts in the UK market a stick material that sounds like 'oilit', that you are supposed to rub over the leaky area and that will majically cure it. Don't know if its any good, don't know anyone who has tried it, and I can't see how it could work. You pays your money and takes your chances.
Best of luck

BOB

 

[ThomP]

This is n alternative thought on where the oil is comming from.

6 Cylinder Healeys have long rocker covers that are held on with two fasteners. In the old days. POs would just tighten the he11 out of them to stop the rocker cover from leaking rather than replace the rocker cover gasket. Many 6 cylinder rocker covers are bowed from this practice. The bow causes the cover to be wider in the middle, just above the dizzy. The bow also makes it almost impossible to keep the rocker cover from leaking without serious goop.

The head is quite contoured just under the rocker cover, because of spark plugs and push rod paths. It is possible for the oil to be leaking from the rocker cover and down to the seam between the head and block where it collects and is more visible. The contours make the oil less obvious. The horizontal seam, on the other hand, makes it stand out and appear to be coming from that area.

Could your rocker cover be bowed and the source of the leak?

 

[John Turney]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by tahoe healey:
John, How can one tell and does it have a cure and is it important?<hr></blockquote>

The way to tell is that oil seems to come from behind the tubes (cast into the head) where the push rods come up between the spark plugs. The cure is to take the rocker arm out and put silicone sealer at the bottom of any bolt holes that you can see daylight in the bottom. The good news is that it's not important. It just seeps oil into the area around the plugs and has to be wiped off occasionally at hte beginning of car shows.

John, BN4

 

[tahoe healey]

Thanks, all, for the imput. The valve cover is secure and not leaking due to sealant. This is a shame cause I'd like to recheck the torque but may create a new leak at the valve cover. Maybe its best to leave it alone.

et al