Factory head bolts on a 6.0-liter diesel Power Stroke engine are designed to torque to specification (TTS). This means that a torque wrench is not required for installation because the bolt won't tighten after the torque pressure reaches 240-foot-pounds. However, these bolts have a tendency to fail when after-market improvements that are made to the engine increase the horsepower output beyond factory standards. The solution to this problem is to replace the bolts with head studs. Unlike TTS bolts, head studs must be installed to precise foot-pound specifications.
Lay the head gasket on the face of the engine block. Align the holes of the gasket with the stud holes on the engine block to determine which side of the gasket is the top and which is the bottom. The gasket is anti-symmetrical; flip it over if the holes do not align appropriately.
Remove the gasket and spread high-temperature head-gasket adhesive on the bottom. Use your finger to spread a thin layer over the entire underside. Do not be concerned about being messy: Too much adhesive is fine, but too little is a mistake. Put the gasket back in place on the engine block by aligning the holes of the gasket with those on the block.
Thread the ten head studs into the engine block by hand through the holes of the head gasket. After they are hand-tight, back them off three complete turns to give them play. If the studs are securely in place, it is difficult to put the head on the engine block, so smear head gasket adhesive on the top of the head gasket. Cover the entire top of the gasket with a thin layer; again, too much is not a problem, but too little is.
Raise the head over the studs and then lower it over them, with each stud entering the corresponding hole in the head and exiting the other side as the head fits down on the block. Hand-tighten each head stud.
Put the appropriate-size star socket on the torque wrench. Read the head-stud installation instructions that are provided by the manufacturer to find the appropriate number of foot-pounds required for installation. Typically, this number is around 240 foot-pounds. Adjust the socket-set calibration collar to this number.
Place the socket on each stud and wrench it individually to the appropriate torque. Drop a washer around the stud and follow it with a nut. Torque each nut to the foot-pounds specifications provided by the head-stud manufacturer's instructions.
