Head bolts torque

[mustang652]

Needs some help. I'm sure I've seen it on one of the posts but now can't find the torque specks for the head bolds, the sequence and the number of time to be torqed down and time between torqing. With any luck at all I hope to get the engine bay reassembled and mabe running this weekend.

 

[addo]

Someone will jump in if I'm wrong, but...

I'll say 50, wait ten minutes, then 65. Wait at least 20 minutes, preferably overnight. Then 75. Be sure to use oil or moly grease on the bolt threads and under the heads. Also on the hardened flatwashers if you have them too. You may choose to put Permatex No.3 on threads of the front bolt that goes into the water jacket, instead of grease. Still use lubrication to the underside of its head.

Consider it a job with well-placed opportunities to clean up the shop and have a cup of coffee!

 

[CobraSix]

addo is right on the torque. If you don't have it, this is a great time to buy a shop manual for your car. It is worth the $50 or so that it sells for.

Slade

 

[johnnyzoom]

Here is sequence according to manual:


13 8 4 1 5 9 12
/----------------------\
<- firewall
\----------------------/
14 7 3 2 6 10 11


* 13 and 14 are in back (13 by temp sending unit) 11 and 12 towards front

Agreed, I'd still be pushing Fred Flintstone style without the manual (and this forum).

 

[ludwig]

I heard that you go around the head in a circle (more or less), starting in the middle and gradually working your way out to the ends.

 

[Alabama65stang]

Be careful about the hardenend washers. I added them in mine with a '80 head and it left the bolts only engaging about the top 3/8" of the threads in the block. Ended up stripping the threads in the hole by the water pump. Heli-coiled it and bought the stud kit from Mike and all is well now.

Moral of the story: check your bolt length before adding washers and putting the head back on.

 

[Asa]

I heard that you go around the head in a circle (more or less), starting in the middle and gradually working your way out to the ends.

more like a spiral, but yeah

 

[ludwig]

Evan. My baby. Where have you been? Come in. Sit down. Can I get you something to eat. I got fresh rhubarb pie. I'll put some coffee on.

There. Well, how ARE you? Gosh when was the last time you were here?

 

[mustang652]

Thanks again for the advice and info given and yes, I do need to buy a shop manual. I've got a friend comming over in the mornig , he's a recently retired mechanic, with a his torque wrench and will help guide me through the process. Had hoped to have finished the various reassembly today, but it's taking a lot longer than I figukred. As long as I can get the head torqued and the rockers on, I can finish up over the next cou0;e of days and trky for later next week.

 

[Mercury Mike]

What happens if you don't put oil on the bolts before putting them back in the head? Also, for retorquing head bolts, is it a must or only if it leaks a little or...? I changed the head gasket on my 200 and I'm not sure about whether or not to re-torque them. It's been probably a month since the gasket change and no problems yet! =)

 

[addo]

The oil is a light anti-corrosive, and a great lubricant. Dry bolts will give a possibly false torque reading.