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What does everyone do? New or re-used head bolts?
Head bolt... reuse or get new?
Started by
KentCarter
, 01-10-2011 03:02 PM
#1
Posted 01-10-2011 03:02 PM
KentCarter
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Future Never Has Been
- Location:Houston
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#2
Posted 01-10-2011 03:04 PM
tony senese
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Not racing bicycles again!!
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Of all the things I have had issues with reusing head bolts has never caused one. I read posts all the time about how that isn't a good idea..... it has never caused any issue for me. They just need to be retorqued in the right order and to the right value. Also, clean the surface of the block and head well and make sure the head isn't warped.
Then go race!
Then go race!
Phew...... that was a close one!
Tony Senese
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#3
Posted 01-10-2011 04:47 PM
steveracer
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Blue Eyes, Aquarius, hates being squeezed to the grass in SowDiv
- Location:Austin, Tx
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Ours are not "torque to yield" headbolts where you torque them and then tighten them another 1/4 or 1/2 turn. Those kind stretch when you put that extra twist in and are NOT reusable.
Steven Holloway
Artist formerly known as Chief Whipping Boy for Lone Star Region
#4
Posted 01-10-2011 06:07 PM
tony senese
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Not racing bicycles again!!
- Location:Dublin, CA, USA
- Region:Nor-Cal
- Car Year:1999
- Car Number:51
Ours are not "torque to yield" headbolts where you torque them and then tighten them another 1/4 or 1/2 turn. Those kind stretch when you put that extra twist in and are NOT reusable.
I'm just saying I have not had any failures from reusing them, regardless of what type of bolt they are. Theory is theory and practice is practice. Are you saying if you blew the head gasket at the track, you would not put the head back on with the same bolts and a new gasket???? Pretty sure most people I know would take the chance.... I'm just saying.
Phew...... that was a close one!
Tony Senese
NASA-NE SM Director
'06, '08, '11, '12, '13, '14
NASA-NE SM champ
#5
Posted 01-10-2011 07:35 PM
juliancates
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I'm just saying I have not had any failures from reusing them, regardless of what type of bolt they are. Theory is theory and practice is practice. Are you saying if you blew the head gasket at the track, you would not put the head back on with the same bolts and a new gasket???? Pretty sure most people I know would take the chance.... I'm just saying.
Sounds like he was agreeing with you. In my BMW, the head bolts were "torque to yield" and got stretched out every time you tightened them... so new head bolts every time the head came off. Sounds like the Miata headbolts are NOT torque to yield and would be ok to reuse, yeah?
2010 NASA Midwest GTS2 Runner-Up
2011 The SM Saga Begins
#6
Posted 01-10-2011 09:08 PM
steveracer
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Blue Eyes, Aquarius, hates being squeezed to the grass in SowDiv
- Location:Austin, Tx
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- Car Year:1999
- Car Number:92
Sounds like he was agreeing with you. In my BMW, the head bolts were "torque to yield" and got stretched out every time you tightened them... so new head bolts every time the head came off. Sounds like the Miata headbolts are NOT torque to yield and would be ok to reuse, yeah?
Correct.
Steven Holloway
Artist formerly known as Chief Whipping Boy for Lone Star Region
#7
Posted 01-11-2011 03:37 PM
tony senese
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Not racing bicycles again!!
- Location:Dublin, CA, USA
- Region:Nor-Cal
- Car Year:1999
- Car Number:51
Sorry, I misread, I am paranoid 
Phew...... that was a close one!
Tony Senese
NASA-NE SM Director
'06, '08, '11, '12, '13, '14
NASA-NE SM champ
#8
Posted 01-11-2011 06:01 PM
steveracer
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Blue Eyes, Aquarius, hates being squeezed to the grass in SowDiv
- Location:Austin, Tx
- Region:Lone Star
- Car Year:1999
- Car Number:92
'salright, I'm frequently confused for some asshole that looks like me!
Steven Holloway
Artist formerly known as Chief Whipping Boy for Lone Star Region
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