Blown head gasket (with a twist)

[quadman21]

Ok, I've been here and done this already. My 440 has been running great for months now but I blew my head gasket Firday evening. I was running the cometic fiber head gasket. I have already done the re-torque a few times and have had no problems since June. In June I put TC studs in. Now, from what I can figure, it seems that my studs are ok but my head nuts keep easing off. they only eased off to about 27-28 foot pounds but I guess it's enough to blow a gasket. So my question is how do I keep the head nuts from easing off when I'm sure my studs are ok?

[44oEX]

treadlock

[skemp]

I am surprised that they are easing off, but you can use a mild threadlocker or use a jam nut on top of the head nuts to keep it in place.

[Wheelie]

See if you can find a nut with the threads crimped.

[RED121572]

Dont race or beat on it.;)

[Wheelie]

Red--

How is the 435 treating you, power and reliability. I'm thinking about a 416 or a 440 w/12.5:1.

Thanks

[quadman21]

I took my head off last night and found a couple of things. 1. Whoever put my studs in ( I had a good mechanic build my engine) put the studs in a little too deep. This only left a few threads for the acorn nuts to hold to. It seems like they were drilled and tapped too deep for the TC studs. 2. the studs on the exhaust and flywheel sides of the engine were loose. They weren't stripped, just loose. So I have loc-tited them in to the correct height. So now I am hoping that when I put my gasket back on that the loc-tite will hold. Also, I am going to loc-tite the acorn head nuts. Thanks for all your suggestions!