When You Bolt Together YOUR FE Engine

[Wreckless Warren]

What do you use to lubricate the various threads and where like a blind hole or one going into a water jacket.

Do you use Thread Locker anywhere? If so, where and what type? Thanks. ww

[jayb]

I use ARP thread lubricant on any bolt that is torqued, just a bit of oil on the other bolts (valve cover bolts, timing cover bolts, etc.), and either The Right Stuff or that Ford TA-31 sealer on bolts that go into the water jacket.  Also, any stud that gets screwed into aluminum gets anti-seize on the threads.

[66FAIRLANE]

ARP stuff = ARP stuff
Into a water jacket = Permatex No.3
Flywheel & cam bolts = Loctite
Everywhere else = Anti Seize (silver one)
Tonsils = JD and Coke

[ToddK]

I've had good luck so far using ARP thread dealer on bolts going into water jackets. For the rest, same as Jay recommends.

[Jim Comet]

I would advise against using ARP lube on non ARP bolts that get torqued. I just use motor oil on non ARP fasteners. I used ARP lube on stock Ford headbolts on my 351W and 2 of them broke. I believe because the ARP lube reduces friction much more than oil I overstretched the stock bolt using ARP lube and the stock torque specs. Jim

[jayb]

I'll bet you were using the old ARP lube.  The new "Ultra Torque" ARP lube is not as slippery as the old stuff.  Although I must say I am still surprised that you snapped some factory head bolts using it...

[Jim Comet]

You are correct, I assembled this engine in 1996. The bolts didn't actually break when I torqued them. They broke after some heat cycles, about 1000 miles. One didn't actually break but wrecked the threads on its on its way out and was missing when I started loosing coolant. I put in a double heli-coil and installed a head stud kit and never had another problem. This motor was worked very hard as it was in my F150 with a slide in camper and pulled my car and trailer set up. With 9.5 to 1 compression, iron heads and 3.08 gears, boy did that thing ever rattle (87 octane gas) pulling up the hills coming back from Rock Falls. Jim