After I dropped my trans to swap out the clutch I noticed a leak on the back driver side of the motor. When I installed the cams, springs and retainers I studded the motor also, torqued to 100ftlbs for a little extra security. Head was checked for clearance but block wasnt. Had about 10 runs at the track and a few street pulls. I read before I bought the hg that oem is the way to go, well I shouldve listened.

Ps I never retorqued the head, could this be the reason why?

 

What head studs? 100 ft/lbs is too much for either the standard ARP's or their L19's.

 

Did you clean up the head before the install?, use a razor to clean off any crap. Did you torque the studs in the correct order? I always Hylomar the gasket before install, I think it helps the seal, doesn't hurt that's for sure.

 

Like the op stated

OEM

I've never had an issue with a leak using an oem HG on a head/block with a clean mating surface.

Also over torquing can be a bad thing. Especially if you did not torque the head studs in the correct order.

 

ARP headstuds were used and I torqued them in the right sequence. Surface was cleaned prior to install, razor was used to get all the residue off. 100Ftlbs because one of my other evo buddies runs his without issues for 10k miles

 

how many miles on the motor before you replaced the HG? head warped? did you resurface the head before install?

 

There was 50k miles on the motor when I pulled the head off. I sent the head in to a local machine shop, they checked the clearance and hot tanked it.

 

pull the head, maybe the gasket cracked or debris got in between the block and head on installation. the leak may not even be from the head

 

100 is normal practice for the ARP's.

 

I don't care 'what one of your other Evo buddies' did.

I'm running 38psi+ on an HTA86, L19's torqued to what ARP suggests-95 ft/lbs

Make sure you're torque wrench has not been misused since it's last calibration, or it's not much more than a fancy billy club.

I'm glad to help but I'm not going to sugarcoat anything..