i am using new stuff!!

 

Head bolts no due to TTY, but aren't gm or cometic head gaskets good for at least 1 to 2 reuses on LSx engines?

 

Hmm, well I've seen many people break the headbolts from re-using them, you could probably find that in a search. You should be able to reuse the mls gaskets if they have low miles, just check them. Cometics you can re-use. I would not think you could reuse graphite head gaskets at all.

 

If its a low milage engine, you can probably get away with replacing only the head gaskets and the bolts. Assuming its a 99 or newer engine all the gaskets shoudl be metal with silicon infused. You might think about a new front crank seal though since these are very dependant on minute variances in how the front cover goes back on. Once the seal breaks in against the crank, if you loosen the cover and it shifts a few thousandths, the seal will not be as accurate when you tighten it back up again.

For what it's worth, I have reused my 2002 head bolts sucessfully by torquing them down to 50, then to 65, then finally the torquing the longer bolts to 75. I wouldnt recommend running that way for any extended period of time. I just wanted to quiet down all the nay-sayers.

 

Yes, as you've described here is OK. This means heads are installed with new head gaskets & new head bolts. Intake gasket, egr gasket,...etc re-used are OK.

Anyone using previously torqued to yield bolts may as well just poor coolant into the oil fill port; 'cuz it'll be there sooner than later, IMO.

 

Why do you say that? The popular assumption is that reusing TTY bolts would lead to bolts breaking, not having them loosen or stretch further with use. I experienced neither, for what its worth. Im not saying its a good habit to get into, But if youre in a pinch like I was and had to get my daily driver back on the road and couldnt wait to order bolts, it will suffice.

 

What was meant is that I would never take the risk; for these reasons:

1) Bolts have lengthened so they may be bottomed out in the blind hole which could mean that the gasket is not sealed properly.

2) Bolt strength in terms of breaking. They could break while intalling them leaving you with a headache or the bolt has now been torqued to some level of yielding twice now & continues to see additional forces from compression.

3) Any amount of overheating coolant would have a better chance of getting by the gasket seal if bolts are weak from previous yielding or if they are simply not tightened as much because they were used previously. There is a ridge in the gasket & if you notice, the piston sleeves protrude out of the block a few thousandths. My belief is that the more force applied to that ridge, the less chance of a coolant leak.

Again, this is my opinion & the reasons why I would never do it. I also wouldn't use nitrous oxide because it creates a mixture similar to that seen in a cutting torch. We all know what cutting torches are used for & few would consider holding a cutting torch flame to a piston. This doesn't mean that others don't use nitrous oxide, I just choose not to.

 

new stuff it is
s

 

Wow...I always thought that, under temperature and pressure, the Nitrogen and Oxygen separated, leaving the excess oxygen to facilitate the combustion of the fuel added by the fuel solenoid, exactly like the native oxygen in the atmosphere does to the fuel already added to the cylinder. I would be really interested to hear exactly what chemical reaction causes this cutting torch reaction. Does it involve the same carbon-carbon triplebond that acetylene has? Thanks in advance for clearing up this mystery reaction!

Galen

 

You're welcome,
How did I know some smart *** would jump all over that statement?

 

MLS gaskets....you can do this!

 

it would be in your best interest not to reuse head bolts.

 

I guess you can save alot of money if you just buy headbolts and head gaskets, it seems here that this is what alot are doing.

 

I don't know...maybe because it was an inaccurate dumbass statement? If you are gonna answer a question...or make a comment, at least make sure it is somewhat based on fact.

Galen

 

H/C swaps I buy head bolts/gaskets. Reuse the timing cover gasket, water pump gasket, exhaust gasket, intake O-rings, etc, if there are no VISIBLE flaws. No problems as of yet. Dont know that I would re-use head bolts, just because they are pretty cheap, and I dont feel like messing with a broken primary in the block. I do re-use the 10mm head bolts.

Brandon

 

Now iam convinced! I think I am going to try it. new bolts and head gaskets and reused the gaskets.