RE: Angle Torque & head bolts

["miltdanfoss" <d@xxxx>]

There is a very interesting article in this month's Popular Mechanics 
about angle torqueing.

It is worth mentioning that the article states that it is a 
completely different method than the regular kind of torqueing and 
this method uses a different material bolt for the head bolts and 
that part of what one is doing is stretching the bolt, and therefore 
they shouldn't be reused because there is too great a risk with 
snapping them.

I too have always reused my head bolts (10 engines that I've 
rebuilt). I also reused the ones on the DeLorean engine when I 
rebuilt it. This was the first time angle torqueing was required. It 
made the tightening very scary! I would say the angle torque is a 
heck of a lot higher than with the other method. I'd be curious to 
know what the torque it translates to in foot pounds -- I needed an 
assist bar to get it all the way to the proper angle.

My opinion is that if you are that far into the engine, you might as 
well spend a little more money and time and replace the head bolts. I 
will if I ever have to do it again.

For what it's worth,
Dan in Cocoa, FL (3932)