Panhead D-rings - When are the needed?

[sixball]

I'm new to panheads, as well as this site. I am currently working on a alternator shovel bottom end with STD panhead heads. I have some new aftermarket tin panhead rocker covers and I also bought some thick rubber/plastic James rocker cover gaskets. My question Is do I need to use D-rings? I have a set of cast D-rings and older stainless rocker covers for use with my 55 pan on the shelf. I'm just looking for some info on when the use of D-rings is needed and for what purpose.

Thanks
Sixball

[VintageTwin]

I'd use the '54-65 thick D-rings or the thinner laminate-plate ones. Using the D-rings distributes the seal pressure between the perimeter screws. Make sure your covers are flat on the bottom. There's usually some warp and over-chroming of the perimeter screw hole's drill-slag. Place the covers on a sheet of glass. If you can rock them back and forth, then you need to work on them to make them flat.

dringsocketcf6.jpg

A NAPA #NMD608 1/4" deep socket. tighten the screws criss-cross to 15 inch lbs.
I like to mark the top of each screw when it gets torqued. I let the head sit for overnight with new gaskets. Leave the torque wrench set at 15 in. lbs. and come back and re-torque each one again just to be sure the gasket hasn't compressed (I only re-torque these screws because they have a thick cork under them. Re-torquing is not recommended on thin gasket applications.) I was able to pull a little bit more from the torque wrench on a couple of them.
15 in. lbs. feels like a secure torque and not an over-torque. These are new threads in both heads from Accurate Engineering, so keep that in mind before you put 15 in. lbs. of stress on old threads
Use no sealer on the D-ring gaskets.

[sixball]

Thanks for the info.... Another question: The D-rings go right on the head with NO gasket between the head and D-ring? Then the gasket goes on BETWEEN the D-ring and the rocker cover? I really need to find an online manual of the top end of a panhead. Also, what size allen screws do I need to go through the thick cast D-rings and thick james gasket?

Thanks
Sixball

[doc308]

There is no gasket between the D ring and the valve cover. The D ring only distributes the pressure of the bolts/screws onth evalve cover lip. The gasket goes on between the head ( ie the engine head) and the valve cover.

[FlatHeadSix]

sixball

Didja check the Knowledge Base?

[sixball]

Perfect. EXACTLY what I was looking for


Thanks
Sixball