Installing heads

[kaw550]

I am getting ready to reinstall my cylinder heads.
How do I tell if the bolts can be reused or if they are torque to yeild? It is a remanufactued engine. The cylinder head bolts are marked FB with 8 lines. Should the bolts have washers? I have one block with them and one without? Do they only have washer if the heads were surfaced?

Is Felpro 8548 PT-2 an acceptable head gasket? I dont want to do this again.

 

[Thebeas]

The head bolts I just installed have washers. I'd spend the money for some new ARP bolts. It cost a little, but like you... I don't want to do this again. It's just good insurance.

 

[EFI Guy]

Hard to beat these for the price, comes with bolts and the good V/C gaskets. I've used them a couple times, no complaints.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/fms-m-6051-a50/overview/

 

[1sicbronconut]

Small block Ford head bolts aren't torque to yield bolts so you can reuse them if you want to. Torque to yield bolts will call for some angle torque after the normal ft/lb setting is reached this is what stretchs the bolts and makes replacent required, seems to be more with aluminum heads/blocks.

 

[airbur]

Your engine is held together with bolts.....they are cheap....why take the chance with used? Buy ARP or other quality bolts and be done.

 

[KyleQ]

There is nothing wrong with the factory Ford bolts - spend the money if you want, but you DO NOT HAVE TO. Typically the bolts without washers are reusable, the ones with washers are NOT.

 

[TwoDalesDad]

When you assemble your small block ford engine make sure all your bolts are clean. Make sure gasket surface's are clean. PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS..FOLLOW THE TORQUE SEQUENCE'S.....VERY IMPORTANT! !! CLEAN ALL PARTS.....I HAVE ASSEMBLED QUITE A
FEW ENGINES...BUT IF YOU FOLLOW THE SAME STEPS..THEY WILL ALL START, THEN RUN FOR A LONG TIME TO COME......IF YOU SKIP THE CLEAN STEP...OR THE TORQUE SEQUENCE...YOU MAY AS WELL ...

 

[Broncobowsher]

Small block Ford head bolts aren't torque to yield bolts so you can reuse them if you want to. Torque to yield bolts will call for some angle torque after the normal ft/lb setting is reached this is what stretchs the bolts and makes replacent required, seems to be more with aluminum heads/blocks.

Reference material I have found shows that '92½ and newer 5.0 head bolts are torque to yield and are not reusable. Step 6 Page 33 shows it as well. Giving specs, also goes by the '92 model year date.

Yes, they did use torque to yield bolts in some years. Just not all years. If you are sure you have pre '92 bolts you can reuse them. But if you cannot garantee that they are pre '92 then you really should replace them.

 

[KyleQ]

All of the Fel-Pro stuff I've gotten with my head gaskets state the washer vs non-washer deal.

Notice that every time they picture TTY bolts they have washers on them- I pulled bolts from an 86 F150 for my 351W build as they were just sitting in a friends motor...

Pay attention to what needs oil on the heads and threads (inner head bolts) and what needs rtv on threads and oil on bolt head (out head bolts near exhaust manifold, they go through the water jacket)


A few places have said that TTY bolts were never used on 351W's and 460's - but who knows...

 

[rockg]

Just don't install arp head studs, if you have a problem down the road and have to remove the head while engine is in truck they do not have enough clearance to remove head with out pulling engine on drivers side...

 

[Broncobowsher]

Just don't install arp head studs, if you have a problem down the road and have to remove the head while engine is in truck they do not have enough clearance to remove head with out pulling engine on drivers side...

I have heard that, but can't figure out why people can't just unscrew the stud? It isn't that hard to do. Yea, it is an extra step, so what. Its not like thay are now permanetly attached to the block or anything.

 

[KyleQ]

I have heard that, but can't figure out why people can't just unscrew the stud? It isn't that hard to do. Yea, it is an extra step, so what. Its not like thay are now permanetly attached to the block or anything.

Yeah, they are supposed to be hand tight, if not even bottomed out - that is the way studs work...

 

[rockg]

Yeah, they are supposed to be hand tight, if not even bottomed out - that is the way studs work...

I haven't tried to remove the head, hopefully never have too. I guess i'm good if ever i do need to. Scratch that then.

 

[KyleQ]

I haven't tried to remove the head, hopefully never have too. I guess i'm good if ever i do need to. Scratch that then.

Yeah - once rebuilding an engine pulling it apart is the last thing I would want to do, lol... been there, done that though

 

[76 bronco J]

Hard to beat these for the price, comes with bolts and the good V/C gaskets. I've used them a couple times, no complaints.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/fms-m-6051-a50/overview/

>>> that expanded graphite head gasket kit from Ford Racing kit is very good.... it's on my aluminum head crate engine & is sealing well on my friends AFR headed 9psi supercharged mustang....I too like those late production metal/bonded O-ring valve cover gaskets in the kit....like them so much I ground the lip off my 140 dollar bronco script valve covers so I could use them.....also if you see details in the link below..... it mentioned the '93-'01 5.0 production torque to yield bolts can be used up to three times despite what most interweb mechanics claim.........http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=1763

 

[kaw550]

If the engine was remanifactured, would they have reused TTY bolts? Now, if they were replaced would they have used them again?

I called the machine shop. They have not touched them yet. UGH. It will be three weeks on Monday.

 

[airbur]

Your engine is held together with bolts.....they are cheap....why take the chance with used? Buy ARP or other quality bolts and be done.

......