Retorque head bolts after first drive?

[Jason 302]

I've read that it is smart to retorque your head bolts after you have ran your motor for the first time and let it cooled down. But is it really necessary? I really don't want to dig back into the motor and spend money on gaskets if I don't have to. Any experiances? Also, ARP calls for 65 ft-lbs on the head bolt torque. But I've seen in many other articles and directions that some tighten the top row tighter than the bottom row. What are your opinions on that?Thanks a lot guys.

 

[1992blkGT]

I've read that it is smart to retorque your head bolts after you have ran your motor for the first time and let it cooled down. But is it really necessary? I really don't want to dig back into the motor and spend money on gaskets if I don't have to. Any experiances? Also, ARP calls for 65 ft-lbs on the head bolt torque. But I've seen in many other articles and directions that some tighten the top row tighter than the bottom row. What are your opinions on that?Thanks a lot guys.

My Trick Flow heads recommended 100lb-ft (after following the torqueing sequence) on the lower bolts, and 110lb-ft on the middle bolts. I doubt that you are supposed to tighten the bolts after driving it. I sure as hell am not. I think you should tighten the lower intake manifold bolts after driving though, because that gasket contracts a lot under heat. Just my opinion though!

 

[88POSLX]

It depends on the head gasket, but I would do them anyways. You shouldn't have to replace any gaskets, at most the upper/lower intake gasket. The cork valve cover gaskets can be reused tons of times. Otherwise, it will eat at your mind, soon, causing you to lose sleep at night, breaking out in cold sweats during the day, stressing you out 'til you get an ulcer. I'd just rather retorque the head bolts.

 

[EMW150]

I torque 70 on the shorts and 75 on the long. I never retorque and have never had a problem. Especially if you use RTV where the short bolts are exposed to the water jackets because retorquing would break the seal since the rtv will be set.