[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

A couple of things to point out here;

Copper 'Spray a Gasket' coatings are a "band-aid" for something else that is wrong. I cannot think of a legitimate reason for using it if the cylinder head and the engine block deck surface has been properly machined. Some say it an insurance policy! Again, it is not needed however if used and the head and or block move due to thermal expansion where the tackiness of the Copper coating has been disturbed, then is there really a future benefit at that point? Likely it will do more harm than good. That is why most knowledgeable/reputable rebuilders will say "No." to using it.



As for increasing the torque greater than 55 pound, (-or insert any number over 50 pounds) you really do not receive any more clamping force that is beneficial.

The arbitrary 55# torque number is what the advertised rating is for fastener torque of a ⁷⁄₁₆ Grade 5 stud. This provides about 60,000(±) pounds of yield. The issue is the deck surface of the engine block is only 0.4375" thick (-which matches the thread depth for the size of stud) HOWEVER, the cast iron block with ⁷⁄₁₆" stud only has a yield rating of 44k pounds before the threads will be compromised (pull). With a Grade 2 or Grade 3 stud, this will never be an issue however with a Grade 5 or 8 stud, -and with additional torque placed on the stud(s), the deck surface is typically distorted when the studs are torqued that much.

An engine machinist with a good quality surfacer often finds the perimeter of the stud's threaded hole will be "proud" as the threads have begun to pull. In this situation, the only correct repair is to install a thread insert in each of the damaged holes. The irony is that 50# vs. 55# total clamping load is less than 100# -or about 1¼%. Again, make the block & head surfaces flat, and you don't need the extra torque amount.