i'm rebuilding the head on my 02 F23A1 4 cylinder SOHC engine, has 96000 miles on it..

my question is, do i really need to replace all of my cylinder head bolts? or can i re-use the original ones ?



thanks,

Moddage

 

What are your plans for the enine?


If your are in the rebuilding the engine phase. Then reusing the head bolt's is OK! The stock Honda bolts are not torque to yeild. They can be used a seconfd time. What ever tq specs are on the original head bolts you use again when you tq them down.

If your going boost, you wouls want to upgrade too new head bolts. Rod bolts would also be a good upgrade.

 

yeah not going for boost...

just a head rebuild... valve in cylinder #2 got damaged somehow without ever touching a piston... i'm still baffled at that..


not touching anything but the head, and taking the opportunity to put my new timing belt and water pump parts in. looking to get another 100,000 plus miles out of my DD is all. only has 96,000 on it.


i'm going with a complete head rebuild.. going to have a local shop re-machine all 16 valve seats and valves (plus replace the damaged one and any other valves/guides that are worn badly, if any)

also re-installing brand new valve stem seals, and checking and replacing any/all worn valve lash adjusters as well.. and also checking and replacing any/all valve springs that are too sloppy.. (i doubt any actually are, but it's worth a check)


basically a complete head rebuild.. seeing as i only have 96k on the cam journals and cam caps i can't bring myself to buy a used rebuilt head off ebay or anywhere else. as all the ones i've found for my engine dont mention anything at all about replacing/machining or even checking the cam journals/caps nor the mileage on the head before the rebuild...

so the way i see it.. i'm better off spending the same amount on a head that i know the mileage on, that i know for sure has always had proper oil.



later down the road in life, i might purchase my dads del-sol off of him and build an H22 for boost and run like 8psi. nothing crazy.. but in a del-sol it should be a fun little toy



EDIT: Thanks for the reply by the way, i appreciate it. i rebuilt the top end of a 1986.5 supra and reused all head bolts that were in good condition and it's still driving around today.. just wanted to verify if the honda head bolts were stretch "torque to yield" bolts or not.. now that i know that i can re-use them, i'm gonna save myself 100 dollars (which pays for the knock sensor i managed to shatter on accident )

 

I busted a timing belt, and I just bought a whole new engine. It would have been $1200 for a local mechanic to get the head machined and installed. So I bought motor for $500 off ebay. Shipping was $100, but it was still $600 less, and now I have a motor with about 40k - 60k on it (that's what they say at least, motor's going strong though, it's been almost 2 years now). I think pulling a motor out and putting a new one in was easier than doing a head job anyway. If you have an engine hoist that is.

 

Replace.. You can't or shouldn't rely on a bolt that's been in constant stress under heating and cooling conditions to be removed and then used again. The metal is not the same as a new bolt. Bolts cost almost nothing compared to the damage a bad bolt would cause--toss 'em out and use new. I suggest Mr Gasket Cylinder Head Bolt Kit.

 

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