This is topic Over-torqued Head bolts. What to do now? in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by *EPIK* (Member # 7481) on :
 
So a buddy helped me install the heads on a freshly built stock block 331, & he over-torqued the brand new 7/16" ARP head bolts to 105 lbs. Another friend advised me that they were over-torqued, so we cracked them loose & re-torqued them to 85 across the top & 75 across the bottom. it wasn't until we got to the 2nd cylinder head that we realized that some of the washers were also installed upside down (chamfered side was on the bottom)... Anyhow, so we had to go back & do the other head again. The engine was never fired BTW...

So, here are the questions, are the ARP head bolts any good after being torqued 3 times, & are the brand new Fel Pro 9333PT1 composite head gaskets gonna be any good if they were over-torqued & then backed off to the proper specs? The heads were never taken off the block once installed, we only loosened up the bolts.

I would rather not deal with a head gasket & head bolt issue once the motor is installed, so if they should be replaced, I would like to do so now. But only if necessary...

Thanks in advance.

[ 2014-02-24, 05:31 PM: Message edited by: *EPIK* ]
 
Posted by FivePTSlow (Member # 7682) on :
 
Many people have said you can reuse head gaskets as long as it wasn't fired, but do u really want to find that out rather than spend the $40 now for new ones?
 
Posted by *EPIK* (Member # 7481) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by FivePTSlow:
Many people have said you can reuse head gaskets as long as it wasn't fired, but do u really want to find that out rather than spend the $40 now for new ones?
Yup, this is very true... Well, what about the bolts?
 
Posted by 79 cobra (Member # 10137) on :
 
The studs and nuts should be good but check to see if they stretched a bit but I would replace the head gaskets just to be safe

[ 2014-02-24, 06:00 PM: Message edited by: 79 cobra ]
 
Posted by FivePTSlow (Member # 7682) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by *EPIK*:
quote:
Originally posted by FivePTSlow:
Many people have said you can reuse head gaskets as long as it wasn't fired, but do u really want to find that out rather than spend the $40 now for new ones?
Yup, this is very true... Well, what about the bolts?
Arp claims they're reuseable many times over. Maybe contact them directly and ask. Many people have used arp bolts over & over
 
Posted by *EPIK* (Member # 7481) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by FivePTSlow:
quote:
Originally posted by *EPIK*:
quote:
Originally posted by FivePTSlow:
Many people have said you can reuse head gaskets as long as it wasn't fired, but do u really want to find that out rather than spend the $40 now for new ones?
Yup, this is very true... Well, what about the bolts?
Arp claims they're reuseable many times over. Maybe contact them directly and ask. Many people have used arp bolts over & over
I will call them tomorrow. Thanks
 
Posted by triple b (Member # 8763) on :
 
I would run it. they only compress down a specific amount. You call the company...if I worked there I tell you to buy another set lol money in my pocket
 
Posted by *EPIK* (Member # 7481) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by triple b:
I would run it. they only compress down a specific amount. You call the company...if I worked there I tell you to buy another set lol money in my pocket
Very true about the company saying that. But not too sure about the compressing down a certain amount part?
 
Posted by racsirx (Member # 1710) on :
 
I have done 100lbs with felpro 9333pt1 and 7/16 head studs many times, works for me, Foxlake got me to do that many years ago when I had an O-ringed block.

[ 2014-02-24, 09:22 PM: Message edited by: racsirx ]
 
Posted by red5o (Member # 12651) on :
 
Na man they should be good just do like they told you and check if they been stretch
 
Posted by koupe377 (Member # 13461) on :
 
ARP head bolts are NOT "torque to yield" like the factory ones and can be used over and over again. However, with that said I have used the factory bolts more than once with no problems (ie: blown head gaskets) at all.

As for the head gasket they're fine. There's no reason to buy a new set.
 
Posted by *EPIK* (Member # 7481) on :
 
Thanks for all the info guys.
 




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