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Retorque head bolts after first drive?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jason 302
  • Start date Start date Mar 3, 2004

Jason 302

10 Year Member
Aug 9, 2003
685
71
68
Newark, Ohio
Mar 3, 2004
#1
  • Mar 3, 2004
  • #1
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.
 
1

1992blkGT

New Member
Mar 28, 2003
523
0
0
Beaverton, OR
Mar 3, 2004
#2
  • Mar 3, 2004
  • #2
Jason 302 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

Founding Member
Sep 16, 2002
553
0
0
Red Deer, AB
Mar 3, 2004
#3
  • Mar 3, 2004
  • #3
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

Founding Member
May 22, 2000
2,020
1
46
Roaring Spring,PA
Mar 4, 2004
#4
  • Mar 4, 2004
  • #4
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.
 
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