header bolt question

[burrpenick]

Installing a set of Flowtech headers and cant get the inside bolt started on the rear most passenger side cylinder. Have not had time to try removing the others and getting that one started first.....is that the preferred method?

Thanks!

[Chryco Psycho]

Yes , leave the header loose until you get the 2 hardest ones started then install the rest & tighten them

[go-fish]

Yep, take the header off and put it in and this will be one of those you can only turn an 1/8 turn at a time.

[GoodysGotaCuda]

best thing you can do is get some about two inch pieces of all thread the same thread as the header bolts. line the header and gasket up then screw the all thread by hand into the two most center threads. They'll hold your lined up gasket and header and give you room to slide around. once the rest are in (not tight), back out the all thread by hand and put those two bolts in. decent time saver for me.

dont forget RTV on the outer most bolts

[cudabob496]

On my 496 I got some header bolts from ARP that were 3/8 of an inch longer than the stock ones. Also, if you're going into a water jacket, I recommend white pipe thread sealant on the bolts. Let dry overnight, then fill head with water.

[RaptorF229]

Do you need  rtv on the four outer corner bolts or just the front? I'm getting coolant coming out right now definitely from the front but I haven't checked the back

[Chryco Psycho]

Small blocks need thread sealer on the front & rear of both heads
big blocks need sealer on all bplts or studs
Dumb design either way , they should not be drilled through into the water like other makes , 1 adavantage to using alum heads at least

[cudabob496]

Do you need  rtv on the four outer corner bolts or just the front? I'm getting coolant coming out right now definitely from the front but I haven't checked the back

I'd sure use pipe thread sealant over rtv, but I ain't an expert.