engine swap help.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
No its not recommended.
You are going to have the threads clogged with all sorts of crap from the time the engine was runnign and even just sitting. If you try to torque the head bolts you will more than likely just stretch them and not add any extra clamping force. If you stretch them, you might weaken them.
Only way to properly torque a head bolt on this engine and most others is to remove the head so you can clean the bolt threads as well as the threads in the block. Then you can lube them and as much of the torque as possible will got toward actually clamping the head down.
On some engines, retorquing is required soon after initial startup or the first time it reaches operating temp. Thats a different situation because the threads are still fairly "loose" and will not have much friction to get in the way.
But on a 6.9 that has been run long enough to break in, I would not advise attempting to retorque the head bolts.
Just go easy on it and pay attention to any coolant bubbling or other unusual coolant pressure that doesn't go away completely after cool down. Go easy on the engine and it should be fine. At least you will have the truck running again.
You are going to have the threads clogged with all sorts of crap from the time the engine was runnign and even just sitting. If you try to torque the head bolts you will more than likely just stretch them and not add any extra clamping force. If you stretch them, you might weaken them.
Only way to properly torque a head bolt on this engine and most others is to remove the head so you can clean the bolt threads as well as the threads in the block. Then you can lube them and as much of the torque as possible will got toward actually clamping the head down.
On some engines, retorquing is required soon after initial startup or the first time it reaches operating temp. Thats a different situation because the threads are still fairly "loose" and will not have much friction to get in the way.
But on a 6.9 that has been run long enough to break in, I would not advise attempting to retorque the head bolts.
Just go easy on it and pay attention to any coolant bubbling or other unusual coolant pressure that doesn't go away completely after cool down. Go easy on the engine and it should be fine. At least you will have the truck running again.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,501
Likes: 5
From: Faibanks Ak.
The first idi I owned (actually still do) I bought in 85 was a totaled 4x4 with 15000 miles.
I didn't know much about these motors except I liked the pickups a couple of friends,so I put this motor in a 76 highboy with a T18 and 4.10 gears made duals from the manifolds back out of the pipe off a school bus at first straight pipes.Now this pickup governed out at 76 mph but could take a small block half ton until I ran out of rpm's.
One night a short wheel base cheby got to messing with me and we raced up lookout mountain down by kingsland tx and I ran off and left him bad. Now I top out at 76 so I dont pay any attention to the speed and don't have a tach but the curv on top is easy at 76 and I nearly lost it. When I got lined out and looked down my speedo was still pegged. When I got to the bottom I gassed it again and could peg the speedo so now I dont know what is going on the next morning it was back to normal and a week later the ip took a dump still not exactly why the govener did that.
I didn't know much about these motors except I liked the pickups a couple of friends,so I put this motor in a 76 highboy with a T18 and 4.10 gears made duals from the manifolds back out of the pipe off a school bus at first straight pipes.Now this pickup governed out at 76 mph but could take a small block half ton until I ran out of rpm's.
One night a short wheel base cheby got to messing with me and we raced up lookout mountain down by kingsland tx and I ran off and left him bad. Now I top out at 76 so I dont pay any attention to the speed and don't have a tach but the curv on top is easy at 76 and I nearly lost it. When I got lined out and looked down my speedo was still pegged. When I got to the bottom I gassed it again and could peg the speedo so now I dont know what is going on the next morning it was back to normal and a week later the ip took a dump still not exactly why the govener did that.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 0
From: Sweet Home, OR
Ah, you probably had a Dodge behind you, pushin' ya' up the hill.
Really it's the only logical explanation.
It probably was just a 318 if you were still able to make the corner at the top.
Shoot might of even been a van at those speeds.
Possibly a mini-van with the "big" 3.8L V-6.
Really it's the only logical explanation.
It probably was just a 318 if you were still able to make the corner at the top.
Shoot might of even been a van at those speeds.
Possibly a mini-van with the "big" 3.8L V-6.
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