Do you usually re torque head bolts?
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Joined: Aug 2017
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My 1/2" Crapsman torque wrench broke last night so I used my backup 3/8". I only got 1 head on but I want to get my hands on a Snapon torque wrench.
What I did with the one head was, after going 15/25/45/75, I backed all the bolts up a bit and re torqed them. The angle did increase after I did this.
My question is, when I get my hands on a REAL torque wrench, should I just check the bolts by tightening them, or backoff and re tighten again? Note that I only have one head on so far and I used the ARP Ultra thread sealer.
Will this fatigue the ARP bolts?
What I did with the one head was, after going 15/25/45/75, I backed all the bolts up a bit and re torqed them. The angle did increase after I did this.
My question is, when I get my hands on a REAL torque wrench, should I just check the bolts by tightening them, or backoff and re tighten again? Note that I only have one head on so far and I used the ARP Ultra thread sealer.
Will this fatigue the ARP bolts?
how did this work out for you because i did the same thing
My arp's are holding good after 6k miles, never retorqued. Im only around 325rwhp though. No way in hell was i re-using old stock head bolts! Too much work to put heads on to take a chance with old stretched, heat cycled bolts.
I will re-use the arp's when the time comes though.
Use good thread sealant on the arp bolt threads to stop coolant from seeping up the bolts. Also lube the bolt head/washer for proper torque.
I will re-use the arp's when the time comes though.
Use good thread sealant on the arp bolt threads to stop coolant from seeping up the bolts. Also lube the bolt head/washer for proper torque.
Last edited by 350 groundpounder; Aug 23, 2017 at 09:31 AM.
I won't ever loosen a bolt on a head gasket after it's been compressed. I've heard it's fine as long as it's not gone through any sort of heat cycle (start/stop engine), but I won't do it. What I would do in this situation is leave them alone, as long as they are all torqued at a consistent rate using the proper torque sequence.
On a side note my 1/2" Craftsman broke a few weeks ago. Took it into Sears and they said tools with complex internals such as a torque wrench are only warrantied for a year.
On a side note my 1/2" Craftsman broke a few weeks ago. Took it into Sears and they said tools with complex internals such as a torque wrench are only warrantied for a year.
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The point of torquing them down to spec is to ensure that the head gasket is properly crushed and sealed. Once it's crushed that's pretty much it. Backing off the bolt will only weaken the seal you just made.
If you loosen up the bolts you might as well as replace the headgaskets again. Unless it's some hardcore copper headgaskets but if it's Felpro it's a one and done.
If you loosen up the bolts you might as well as replace the headgaskets again. Unless it's some hardcore copper headgaskets but if it's Felpro it's a one and done.
I do 3 passes with a beam style torque wrench, normally I use ARP bolts if its not a stock motor. Be sure to install the washers in the correct orientation. Only had one ARP break on me and that was a L19 rod bolt.
As for the Torque to Yeild (TTY) I see people reuse them, but the purpose of those fasteners is to stretch when the angle is applied, it isn't going to kill you motor but if they have been reused several times it might be an issue. There is a guy on youtube that reuses them all the time with a big turbo. On a junkyard 5.3/4.8 LS motor that maybe cost 300 I doubt people want to spend money for the LS ARP bolts.
As for the Torque to Yeild (TTY) I see people reuse them, but the purpose of those fasteners is to stretch when the angle is applied, it isn't going to kill you motor but if they have been reused several times it might be an issue. There is a guy on youtube that reuses them all the time with a big turbo. On a junkyard 5.3/4.8 LS motor that maybe cost 300 I doubt people want to spend money for the LS ARP bolts.
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Torque bolts Last edited by Kandy Gillen; Apr 22, 2020 at 04:36 PM. Reason: Bnb. Bbn
Dude still posts here, but you do realize you're responding to a 10 year old post?
Ah **** it, I'll respond to my own 10 year old post:
Found out just before Sears shut down they do not have a life time warranty for complex tools, like a torque wrench. Socket wrench, yes. TR, no. Had to replace my 1/2" a few years ago after I torqued down a rear shock bolt in another car and snapped the bolt in half because it didn't click.
Ah **** it, I'll respond to my own 10 year old post:
Found out just before Sears shut down they do not have a life time warranty for complex tools, like a torque wrench. Socket wrench, yes. TR, no. Had to replace my 1/2" a few years ago after I torqued down a rear shock bolt in another car and snapped the bolt in half because it didn't click.
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