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how far do you have to go to bottom out the bolts? I had my block (Magnum) squared, but I guess the machinist took very little off (or that's what he said).

I think I had to have .015" taken off my block to get the deck height I wanted. All the bolt holes in my LA block were not taped ( 1/2-13 ) the same depth, nor were they the same depth period. The top row of bolt holes was deep enough - barely. The bottom row had some deep enough and some not quite deep enough. I put hardened head bolt washers on all of them. Thanks for the correction on the manifold bolt torque - although 12nm seems ( "almost nothing") as does 144 inch lbs. Had my Magnum heads drilled to accept both styles and I am presently using an LA style manifold with them. Ether way, I'm using grade 8 5/16-18 bolts - 30ft lb capacity. Assume the angle on the Magnum bolt pattern requires considerable less torque?

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