Head bolt question

[71 scamp]

There's 10 bolts to each 340 head, which ones need thread sealer? It looks like the bottom row doesn't need any looking at the holes with a flashlight.

[rumblefish360]

I have never used thread sealer on any of my smallblock engines.
Actually, I never heard of useing it.

[71 scamp]

I thought I read somewhere a few years ago that the threads had to be coated, now that I think about it why would you have to. I'm asking cuz every time we take our heads off it takes forever to clean the bolts. Now I feel stupid but I'm only 28 and this is the first motor I've built. Thanks Rumble.

[raymond]

Small block Mopar head bolts do not need any sealer on them. The bolt holes are all blind i.e. they are all completely sealed from the water jacket. The only time you need to seal head bolts is if you own a small chev. They are such a badly designed piece of rubbish that the head bolts screw directly into the water jacket. All you need to do is VERY lightly oil the threads of the head bolts and also lightly oil the underside of the head of the bolts.

[cuda66]

If I may add to that......

I always tork in 3 stages, then let the motor sit for a least 24 hours the check every head bolt one more time.

When your doing your final tork treat it like your about to break the bolt...go real eazzzzzy

The front header bolts front and back need to be studded with silicone on the head end, they go into the water jacket.

Don