Scott
Assembling in cold shouldn't hurt a thing. The danger with gasketed joints
is relative movement with heat cycles, and the change you have in ambient
temps is nothing compared to the first thermal excursion when you run it.
Now, that said, head gaskets differ in design, so retorquing is or is not
necessary. Traditional paper faced gaskets or flexible graphite (ugh)
generally should be retorqued in our applications as some relaxation is seen
in the body of the gasket when going thru the first few thermo cycles.
The newer designs (actually not new, these designs are just an application
of the old Coopers ring) are the multi layer steel embossed gaskets with a
rubber coating. since they end up being a metal to metal joint there is no
creep relaxation, nor is it affected by temperature cycles. For anyone
considering Multi Layered Steel gaskets though, there are two basic designs.
The best for combustion seal is the "Stopper" design where the edge of the
combustion chamber "armor" is folded over similar to the composition gaskets
we are used to. The other less preferred design is just the edges of the
multiple layers exposed to the chamber. The difference is a higher unit
load provided by the folded over design when the middle embossed layers are
exerting the load on the two surfaces. Anyone with combustion sealing
problems should try MLS if available for your engine. They do provide
exceptional unit load, and with production type fastening systems, less bore
distortion. Higher clamp loads though, provide better sealing load.
SO, go ahead, put that puppy together.
Rick
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