1996 960 upper and lower head sealing?

dougsbart · Post by **dougsbart** » 23 Apr 2014, 13:24

I have pulled apart my 1996 Volvo 960 to replace the head gasket. I am looking at several different instructions for re-installation. Can someone tell me exactly what sealant to use between the upper and lower head? There is no gasket, I am clear. Does the sealant go on all surfaces or just around the outer edge? I am an experienced mechanic, I have just never pulled a Volvo apart before and never experienced this with no gasket. Thanks in advance for the assistance.

Post by **jimmy57** » 23 Apr 2014, 14:43

It is an anaerobic sealer but there are a few versions of that. Volvo number is 1161059. Victor-Reinz makes a product for use there and a parts store may be able to cross that volvo number to a Permatex/Loc-Tite product.

Use a small trim pain roller. Home depot and Lowe's sell a disposable plastic tray with a 3 inch wide roller that works perfect. It is applied like a single coat of paint. The surfaces should be very clean and free of any oil. Apply it to the top cover as there are no dowels in your way. IT goes on the flat surface everywhere but stay 3/8 inch away from the cam bearing areas.

Squeeze the product onto the roller tray and work into the roller and then apply it.

dougsbart · Post by **dougsbart** » 23 Apr 2014, 18:43

Thanks! This is not explained very well in any of the threads or the manuals I have seen. So besides the cam bearing areas it will not plug oil passages? And after I put it on upper cover install immediately or wait a minute or two?

danr960 · Post by **danr960** » 24 Apr 2014, 11:03

You can install immediately. The Volvo product does not work until it is removed from oxygen, so you have plenty of time to secure that head top.

DanR '94 964 394,000 miles (160,000 on the new engine)
'08 S60 T5 84,000 miles

Post by **jimmy57** » 24 Apr 2014, 11:57

Dan is right. It stays a liquid until clamped together and air is excluded. Cleanliness and no oil residue is necessary as the formula used uses the trace copper amount in the aluminum alloy as a catalyst for curing.
It is OK unless in cam bearings. You use it sparingly as I described so there is not too much displaced to wind up somewhere it doesn't belong.

dougsbart · Post by **dougsbart** » 25 Apr 2014, 10:27

Thank you both for the advice.