Engine Questions!

[dnix]

I think it's easy for people to get fooled by the fact that it almost feels like you pulled something out when the bolt is stretching. It gets easier to turn while that's happening. It's kind of exciting the first few times you do it. Just keep doing your 90 degree turn, don't stop or slow down.

The only time I remember a guy having a problem with these head bolts breaking when he was trying to torque them. The parts manager kind of thought it was weird that he kept coming up for more bolts. I asked the dope how much is 90 degrees? But that guy was a special kind of stupid.

lookin for thoughts ....

Just in the process of replacing my head gaskets on a 2003 LR D2 4.6l - and following the instructions. Everything was fine up to the second 90 turn, and bolt 1 (top middle - one of the 3 longer ones) all of a sudden just seemed to 'let go'. Basically it was really hard to pull through the 90, but about half way through it lost all tension. I finished the remaining 45 but not feeling good about this. The other 9 all seemed to maintain the torque being put on them.

As an added point, when I removed the head bolts this same bolt didn't need to be cracked - I made a mental note that it seemed loose .... I guess I should have looked a little closer before the assembly.

So when you say it feels different is this what I'm feeling on just this one bolt. I have a sinking feeling that this bolt hole is now stripped.

Thanks

 

[boxster]

lookin for thoughts ....

Just in the process of replacing my head gaskets on a 2003 LR D2 4.6l - and following the instructions. Everything was fine up to the second 90 turn, and bolt 1 (top middle - one of the 3 longer ones) all of a sudden just seemed to 'let go'. Basically it was really hard to pull through the 90, but about half way through it lost all tension. I finished the remaining 45 but not feeling good about this. The other 9 all seemed to maintain the torque being put on them.

As an added point, when I removed the head bolts this same bolt didn't need to be cracked - I made a mental note that it seemed loose .... I guess I should have looked a little closer before the assembly.

So when you say it feels different is this what I'm feeling on just this one bolt. I have a sinking feeling that this bolt hole is now stripped.

Thanks

Did you clean the threads in engine block bolt holes? Did you use new head bolts?

 

[discostew]

Yeah, what Boxter said. If you leave coolant in one of those bolt holes it will not compress and your threads may have pulled out. I would take that bolt out and see if it has metal shavings in the threads. If that happened I'm pretty sure you can fix it with a thread sert.

 

[dnix]

Thanks for the replies.

I did use new head bolts, and I did blow out all the holes with compressed air prior to putting the heads back on.

I pulled out that single bolt and there was a strand of thread on the end of the bolt, so something is not good.

I'm assuming I'll have to pull the head off to put in a helicoil or could I do this with the head still in place? If I pull the head off I'm assuming the head gasket and head bolts will all need to be replaced with new, again.

Thanks

 

[robertf]

theres some crap headbolt kits out these days. did yours have the necked down section to yield properly, or was it a regular bolt?

 

[boxster]

Thanks for the replies.

I did use new head bolts, and I did blow out all the holes with compressed air prior to putting the heads back on.

I pulled out that single bolt and there was a strand of thread on the end of the bolt, so something is not good.

I'm assuming I'll have to pull the head off to put in a helicoil or could I do this with the head still in place? If I pull the head off I'm assuming the head gasket and head bolts will all need to be replaced with new, again.

Thanks

Check out Wurth Time Set inserts, it’s not a coil it’s a screw in sleeve. You might be able to install the insert with head in place.

 

[boxster]

Check out Wurth Time Set inserts, it’s not a coil it’s a screw in sleeve. You might be able to install the insert with head in place.

Wurth Time Serts

 

[boxster]

Wurth Time Serts

7/16 x 2.6 short bolts
7/16 x 3.78 long bolts

 

[boxster]

7/16 x 2.6 short bolts
7/16 x 3.78 long bolts

Heads bolts torqued in 3 steps 1) 15ft pounds 2) 90 degrees or 1/4 turn 3) another 90 degrees to complete.