What are the chances I just screwed up?

JeepsAndGuns

Well I finally put my 401 together today. When I got to putting the heads on, well, I wasnt thinking or paying attention and the first head I torqued down from 0 to the full torque. I didnt even realalize what I did untill I started putting on the other head. The I remembered you are supposed to go in steps up to the final torque. I did that on that head. But do you think I messed anything up on the first head? I went in the correct sequence, I just went from 0 to 110. I know, I feel real stupid now. But I figured there is not mutch I can do now, so I just finished putting everything together. So did I f*&k up?

Mudrat

JeepsAndGuns wrote
Well I finally put my 401 together today. When I got to putting the heads on, well, I wasnt thinking or paying attention and the first head I torqued down from 0 to the full torque.
... So did I f*&k up?

Dunno, but before you crank it over, take it off, check the head gasket for dimples, wrinkles, different depth seating marks (not even all around) etc... - replace it and retorque CORRECTLY. 111!!!

I think if you fire it up now and get it to op-temp, you'll screw the pooch for certain. Right now it may just be tweaked but not permanently.

Best I can do from here...

Pat

tufcj

I think it will depend on the heads and gaskets you used. The 291C heads were prone to cracking near the 2 lower outside head bolt holes. I've only ever seen 1 of the later heads crack there. If you used a Felpro or similar "permatorque" gasket, they don't compress much, so warpage during torquing would be minimal. I guess worst case is a 291 head with a cheap head gasket where the head would have twisted a bit and chances of cracks and warping are highest. With a late head and a good quality gasket, my bet is that you're OK. Bob tufcj.

JeepsAndGuns

tufcj wrote
I think it will depend on the heads and gaskets you used. The 291C heads were prone to cracking near the 2 lower outside head bolt holes. I've only ever seen 1 of the later heads crack there. If you used a Felpro or similar "permatorque" gasket, they don't compress much, so warpage during torquing would be minimal.

I guess worst case is a 291 head with a cheap head gasket where the head would have twisted a bit and chances of cracks and warping are highest. With a late head and a good quality gasket, my bet is that you're OK.

Bob
tufcj.

The heads came off a 79 360, the head gaskets are fel-pro. I bought a complete engine gasket set, so what ever they put in their gasket kits. It was meatal on the block side and blue/ whatever (fiber?) on the head side. I sprayed the metal side with some copper gasket sealant as per the instructions that came with the gaskets.