nothing_shocking

I've been searching for awhile and I haven't found a good answer yet... Can you reuse these things? In some of the 2005 posts it says replace them, some of the 2007 it says reuse. I don't know what to believe...

Also, how do you properly torque them? I'm 99% sure that the first time I did one of these it failed again because I used an extension on the torque wrench. I don't see how else you can get down to the bolt. Is there a really long socket you can buy or what?

lovelove

yes, you can reuse it. don't be scared to reuse them if you are only planning to go with it as a Daily Driver. If you ever plan on boosting or going higher compression, then i advise you to get some new ones. Before reusing it, check out the threads on the head bolts. If it's flat, change it. If it still looks sharp, you can still reuse it.

based upon torquing it, i never used an extension to torque it. maybe you torqued it too fast that's probably the reason why it lost torque readings on it.

CivicSpoon

You're not supposed to reuse them, but some people do. They can stretch on you though, which would obviously throw off the torque specs. However, the factory service manual doesn't say anything about not reusing them, just to apply clean oil to the threads and washers.

What engine are you working with? That will help for someone to give you the correct sequence and ft-lbs. Just use the shortest extension you can find. I remember hearing somewhere that anything over a 6" extension throws off the accuracy.

nothing_shocking

I'm going to do it on a JDM D15B with regular vtec. Just got it from H-Motors and it has a blown head gasket...

vtechjunkie

iTrader: (2)

Just spend the $100 bucks and get a nice set of ARP's. Get a stock gasket, they work just fine on boost or all motor. That way it isn't something you have to re-do later, should you decide to go "bigger".

nothing_shocking

The only mods I'm gonna have with this thing are just header, exhaust and intake. I don't plan on doing anything else with this. I just need this car for college.

But what about the long socket? What's the proper way to torque head bolts? I really don't want to use an extension again...

v8killaz

reuse them, ive done on many of my cars, runs fine, even re check tq specs and they were not off
once u run them for a couple thousand miles their set and seated because of the heat

this is unless ur doing a build turbo or all motor.

vtechjunkie

iTrader: (2)

You have to use an extension. I haven't seen a socket that long before. Just use one that is shorter than 6 inches. As I said in another thread, I tested this a little while ago with my Snap-On(digital) and a buddies Performance Tool(clicker), there was no difference until we went to a 6in. and a 3in extension, then the socket. I think it was the connection between the two that made the descrepincy. GL man.

nothing_shocking

Also, how do you account for the change in torque when you use oil or moly or some other type of bolt lube?

lovelove

I'm assuming you mean lubing the bolt before putting it back into place. I just use regular motor oil. If your motor says 5W-30, then I used 5W-30. I don't think there is that much amount of significant difference in torque as applied in oil.

Corksil

you only use extra-curricular lube if you have extra-curricular bolts. stock bolts = stock lube (motor oil.)

don't use a super long extension...

retorque a month after the initial install and torque. they may have shifted.

stock bolts are fine to reuse. i have mine for sale on ebay because I bought ARP ones (for crvtec with boost.)

Corksil

bolt pattern is

(9)(5)(2)(4)(8)
(7)(3)(1)(6)(10)

or something similar... google head bolt tightening sequence

nothing_shocking

I'm assuming the bolts you get in the ebay kit would be considered stock bolts... My friend showed me this stuff that you can put on every bolt when you put an engine together and I was thinking about getting that. I was also thinking about getting some of that permatex copper gasket spray for the head gasket.

b18cKoupe

you dont need copper spray nor does the manual recommend it, that is used on motors with dissimilar surfaces and therefore different rates of expansion and contraction, i.e cast iron block and aluminum head setups. Also those with rubber gaskets not mls like honda uses.

nothing_shocking

I read that spray is used when you use a single lay metal head gasket, but can also be used on regular ones.

b18cKoupe

read the service manual for your car, dont listen to me or anyone else. helminc.com, go ahead and buy it.

EFPhilly

Tap the bolts if you really want the correct specs.

nothing_shocking

I don't know what that means... lol.

Also, are the head bolts made specifically to the engine or could you go to like fastenal and get bolts that are the same length and everything? Wouldn't that be a hell of a lot cheaper?

EFPhilly

tap and die. I.e rethreading the aluminum block to get correct torque specs.

And to answer your second question, I would seriouly advise against not doing that because by the sounds of it you dont know too much about motors, and you will have a mess on your hands after those bolts stretch.

nothing_shocking

Didn't think it was called tapping for the bolts... And actually, I know a good deal about motors, not sure how to got that I didn't, but sure.

EFPhilly

The only thing that implied that was the shear fact that you wanted to use ACE hardware bolts for the headbolts. Just use the stock ones if you are stock compression, ARP if boost or high compression. Thats the end of story.

1grex

Did you have your head vacuum & pressure tested & checked for flatness?

nothing_shocking

I haven't even got it off yet, but no I'm not going to do that. It has 43k on it. If it's not flat still, H-Motors can blow me. Actually, they can blow me any way for sending me a busted motor...