:wavey: Got your PM; I'm reposting the answer for the general public here as well.
Originally Posted by TheOtherDave™
Originally Posted by Topend
hey theotherdave, got a question thats seriously bugging me. Ive posted a thread on it but was reading around you sound like a reputable person to ask.
I installed my dc 4-1 header. When it came time to torque the 7 bolts and 2 nut on the flange to head part, the manuals Chilton and haynes only gave me torque specs to the outside 2 nuts. it said 23 so i put them around there. the 7 others though didn't have specs so i tightened them to a realistic spec judging off the tightness of the other nuts. I came up with 30ft-lb that looked and felt right (not to tight) do you remember what you tightend the 7 header to head bolts to? thanks
First, dump your chiltons manual in the nearest trashbin and order the factory service manual from HELMS. From my experience, the Haynes / Chiltons manuals are absolute crap.
And from the Helms manual, the correct torque spec is 23 lb ft for all the nuts. Work in a criss-cross pattern (top-to-bottom) from the middle pair of nuts outward. The locking nuts at the ends are the very last ones to go on.
Since you've overtorqued the inner nuts, there's a possibiliy that you've crimped the header gasket. If that's the case, go ahead and replace it. Better to spend a few extra bucks rather than have a nasty (and noisy) leak develop a couple hundred miles later.
:cheers: