Retorqing the head bolts.

[irax]

Got off the phone with the people at GrimmSpeed and no it is not needed.
ARP says its up to the manufacturer of headgasket.

[Tokay444]

This has less to do with the head gasket and more to do with the head studs used.

[humfrz]

Bubba wants ta know ...... what the hell does tightening the head bolts down have to do with the head gasket? It don't take hardly any torque to mash one of them flat, no matter what they are made of.

Bubba says to just tighten the head bolts down gutten-tight (head bolt tight).

Then he just turned around and shook his head - although I said I was just asking for a friend -

[blsfrs]

The whole process of tightening the head bolts on an FA20 seems like a combination of the Hokie-Pokie and Musical chairs

[irax]

Originally Posted by Tokay444

This has less to do with the head gasket and more to do with the head studs used.

Okay, you can call ARP and tell them they are wrong
It's not just about fatigue of the head bolts, its about the head gasket compression due to heat cycle.


The last time I did this was when I replaced the head gasket on my KA24DE and its rather easy to do on that engine. You take off the valve cover and just boom its right there. Haynes guide deferred to the head gasket instructions. Head gasket manufacturer (FELPRO) recommended retorquing the head bolts after the first engine heat cycle after installing the head gasket.

The FA20 you have to take the motor out of the car or lift it or lower it for access, first you remove all the accessories bolted to the timing cover, then take off the timing cover, remove the timing chains and tensioners, remove the valve covers, and then remove the cam girdles, then you retorque the head bolts. Then you install the cam girdles, install the timing chains and tensioners, reset the timing, install the timing cover, and the finally reinstall all the accessories.

[Tokay444]

And what if you use an OE head gasket and 625AGE studs?

[irax]

Originally Posted by Tokay444

And what if you use an OE head gasket and 625AGE studs?

Sorry, when I called I only asked about the 2000 and not the 625.
But here's the instructions for the EJ with the 625 kit. Doesn't mention retorquing bolts after first heat cycle. https://tech.arp-bolts.com/instructions/260-4704.pdf


I didn't rebuild the motor my self. I paid a shop to do it so I didn't get a copy of the instructions. The builder is hard to get a hold of and the engine break in sheet he gave me was rather generic.

Here is the link to the 2000 kit.
https://tech.arp-bolts.com/instructions/260-4301.pdf


OE bolts are Torque to Angle
https://gt86stuff.onrender.com/t3Por...22984209176356

I know TTA bolts are not retorqued, but my limited experience with TTY may be. So hence the thread. There wasn't anything on the forum, so I guess now there is.