Retorquing head bolts.?

[Rasp933]

Hello, ratsun.

I have close to 3000 miles on a rebuilt l20b.now the question is wen do i retorque the head bolts?or should i just leave them alone?if i do retorque,do i need to back off a bit then torque?

[datzenmike]

L motors usually don't need this done to them. But no harm in checking them every tune up. Loosen one at a time and torque directly to 60 ft lbs (on an L20B) maybe 55 on L16... I forget. Do in any order you like as long as you only loosen one at a time.

 

 

The FSM recommends this at every tune up on the Z24 motor. Very  important as this motor is subject to blowing the head gasket..

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

L motors usually don't need this done to them. But no harm in checking them every tune up. Loosen one at a time and torque directly to 60 ft lbs (on an L20B) maybe 55 on L16... I forget. Do in any order you like as long as you only loosen one at a time.

 

 

The FSM recommends this at every tune up on the Z24 motor. Very  important as this motor is subject to blowing the head gasket..

I disagree. Stock gaskets require it less than aftermarket, but retorque should always be done.

 

500 miles is usually enough. Yes, loosen the bolts at least a 1/8 to 1/4 turn before torquing them. And be sure to take the radiator cap off (or at least loosen it) or you run the risk of leaking coolant into the motor.

[Rasp933]

Appreciate it guys

[Rasp933]

Can this b done when the engine is cold or it needs to b a operating temp?

[ggzilla]

It must be done with the engine cold.

 

 

The FSM used to talk about "Retightening cylinder head bolts" for L-series, ever 12,000 miles or twelve months. But later FSM did not mention it. I thing it's a good idea to do it every few years. It's cheap insurance.

 

Doing a retorque after the first 600 miles is for old-school gaskets. Modern ones are "non-retorque".

[Rasp933]

Ok the engine was rebuilt by local shop here in town. Wen I called them. They said that it doesn't. Need to b retorqued.so iam confused here a bit.

[Dat510_Chris]

Newer head gaskets tell you not to re-torque.

 

[banzai510(hainz)]

I have never done this myself on my motors

but on a motor somebody else did it would have saved me a headgasket change.

 

 

dosent hurt to put 40 pounds on there just to ck. You need that 10mm head allen from Sears anyway with a good torq wrench

[Z-train]

 

Newer head gaskets tell you not to re-torque.

 

 

In correct.They tell you that it is "not needed".But if you retorque,you can't hurt anything.