How did 70 lbs work out? I'm having an antifreeze leak at 70 lbs.....

 

70 worked well for me a year later zero issues

 

That is awesome to hear. I have a antifreeze leak on the back of the head... I increased the torque on the head bolts on the outside of that bank to 80 ft lbs. Hopefully that takes care of it. If not I will just add some stop leak. Thanks

 

No antifreeze leak on mine.
I followed the ARP provided guide and all is good.
I had the heads skimmed and I only scraped the block with a plastic razor blade (I know, it’s not a razor blade if it’s plastic but it looks like one) and rough rags and cleaner until fully clean. No scotch brite pad or anything else abrasive.
I did order the better headgaskets from AB after seeing the one I had appeared cheap.
my rocker covers however . I retightened those yesterday as I was getting the oily drip on the exhaust manifolds.

 

i used abrasive pads to clean up the block... maybe thats where I went wrong...

 

Unless you went crazy with the pads you will be fine..

 

81 lbs is still working for me. No problems.

 

@Wargoob More likely it is the lower intake gasket, if you pop the upper off you can inspect

 

Yep, I have not been impressed with any of the aftermarket intake gaskets. places to leak coolant...they do not fit the runners well, especially the AB one....they a re a bit too long side to side....and I think it's more than just skimming the heads a few thou...these gaskets are off by 5mm...

 

I had received the Victor Reinz in my kit and it didn’t inspire confidence. I ordered the AB preformed valley pan gasket and that worked. Coolant could be leaking there. I used a very thin layer of VR sealer around the coolant passages on the underside of the gasket only.