Re-torque Head Bolts?

Ran the engine for about an hour yesterday. Brought it up to temp for the first time since tearing it down for restoration. It got all new seals, gaskets and a new head gasket, plasti-gauged the main bearings (it was at factory spec still at 28,000 miles ,checked oil pump etc... Should I re-torque the head bolts?

 

It was standard practice in the old days, but I have read that modern gaskests do not require it. I wonder though.

It would be great if someone here has the "just the facts" on this.

 

The modern gaskets are not the torque issue.........it's the ability of the old bolts and threads having been stretched for many years still having the ability to perform the clamping needed..........run it for a thousand miles and while cold with an accurate torque wrench see if anything has moved....

 

Hot or cold? Or warm?

Re torquing head gasket--hot or cold? - The Ford Barn

~popcorn~

 

Oldtime has a great write-up over on the 3b board. I am pretty sure that he is the most knowledgable authority living today on these ancient motors.

 

Torque to factory spec's?..................in the factory engine assembly shop , have you ever seen them heat a motor up to torque it?

New motors with machined flat surfaces , new studs and / or bolts do not need retorquing.................

How many folks here when rebuilding a motor have the block or heads resurfaced? or for that matter even check? Use a stretch gauge on the bolts , chase all the threads , use the proper torque lubricant and have their torque wrench checked once in a while?

Retorque Cold after several complete heat cycles...........

 

I just idle it up to temp after the install, shut it off, take everything back apart, and retorque the head bolts. Never had any issues with this method.

 

Do both. Torque 'em now after a day of sitting, and then again at 500 miles, torque 'em again.

 

I completely rebuilt my engine, including having the head machined and the block tanked. Assembled everything per spec and used Plasti-gauge to ensure everything was A-OK. After a few hundred miles, I started slowly losing antifreeze and I could occasionally smell that sickly sweet smell when I would start the engine. I re-torqued the headbolts and haven't smelled it since (I haven't driven it enough to know if I am still mysteriously losing antifreeze, though.)

When I re-torqued them using the exact same torque wrench set to the same specs, I noticed some of the bolts turned ever so slightly before the torque wrench clicked.

So, given that, I say re-torquing the headbolts after a few hundred miles is good practice on these engines.

 

I did it because the manual said to. Mine didnt budge since the initial install. Hope that helps.

 

Thanks for the input, I will re-torque now and again at the 500 mile mark. Better safe than sorry.