Cylinder Head Bolts

[steve in stockport]

ok the head has had to come off today in an attempt to cure my cars sudden liking for getting very hot.

the question i need answering is are these bolts the reusable kind or the throw away ones?

 

 

its a 2 litre efi pinto by the way

 

thanks in advance

 

Steve

[Guest chris brown]

They are stretch bolts and as such should be replaced but I have known people use then twice with no problems but IMHO it’s not worth the risk.

[Guest adi1]

Hi Steve

If the bolts have been on the car a while its best to replace if only fitted recently then maybe you can use them again you can measure them and look at the specification in the workshop manual for the limits but for about £15 is it worth it.

Steve

[steve in stockport]

thanks for that fellas,

will get some new ones tomorrow with a new stat and possibly a water pump too

 

Steve

[Guest Peejay]

I Think it depends on the age. Not sure when the cahnged but later ones were definately Stretch

Pete

[Guest hypermick]

This seller on EBay is where I had mine from,. theyre good quality unlike some of the cheap foreign ones,

He has a good supply of quality gaskets as well.

 

Just under £12 including p/p. ( much better value than the main dealers. )

 

 

 

 

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-PINTO-HEAD-BOLT...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

 

Mick.

 

forgot to say,...he delivers very quickly too !

[baj25]

Related point (hopefully not taken as a thread hijack (no pun intended))- after fitting and running engine again, what is recommendation for re-tightening? I seem to remember it is something like 1/4 turn but don't know for sure.

TIA, Brian

[Guest hypermick]

Brian,.

 

Run the engine for about 20 minutes, and re-torque to book figures,.

 

That should do it.

 

Mick

[Jon Green]

I thought that the Torx style head bolts as pictured didn't need re-torqueing after a period of running. Once you have them to the specified torque you then give them a further 90deg turn and that's it....job done.

[steve in stockport]

the earlier splined bolts need re-torquing after 20 mins running, but the torx bolts are as Jon said - torque then down in 2 stages then leave them for 5 mins and then add another 1/4 turn.

 

have changed the head gasket, thermostat, water pump and cam belt, will refill the fluids tomorrow and see if the temp stays where it used to

 

Steve