[DML] Re: Head Bolts

["David Teitelbaum" <jtrealty@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

You should NOT try to retorque the head bolts. This torque procedure
is ONLY for the installation of new head gaskets. If you try
retorqueing the bolts you will either break them or strip out the
block. If you do not see bubbles in the coolant, are not losing
coolant, not getting hydrostatic lock, or the motor doesn't overheat,
you should not touch the heads. Since you are checking valve
clearances you should not touch them either if they are close.
Generally you may find you only have to actually adjust 1 or 2 of them.
 In general it is no longer considered "maintainence" to check head
torques. Once you have torqued your heads down they should not be
touched. The gaskets take a "set" and seal. The bolts may actually
loosen (stretch) but as long as the head gaskets are still sealing
they should not be touched. If you DO have a problem with the motor,
like you overheated it and popped a head gasket, retorquing WILL NOT
fix it. You HAVE to replace the head gaskets and THEN AND ONLY THEN do
you do the torque procedure. Because the head bolts are torqued close
to their elastic limit it is probably a good idea to replace them when
replacing the head gaskets. (This is why you cannot retorque the head
bolts, you will stretch them).
David Teitelbaum
vin 10757



--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Todd Nelson" <tan5732@...> wrote:
>
> List:
>  
> Is it recommended to torque your head bolts down just as
maintenance?  I haven't replaced the head gaskets or taken the heads
off for any reason.  But I've always know it to be a good idea to
check the torque when you have the valve covers off just as a
precaution.  I've read the procedure in the workshop manual and it is
of course semi-complicated since it involves a final angular torque
stage.  But the manual also assumes that you have changed the head
gaskets.  I have no reason to believe that they are loose or too
tight, just wondering.
>  
> Thanks,
> Todd Nelson
> 1561, Vermont
> http://www.rit.edu/~tan5732
>  
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>









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