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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Retorque 2.0 heads? Pro and Cons?

Posted by: 914rrr Mar 27 2009, 11:36 AM

I am in the process of freshening and detailing my 2.0 engine. While I have the engine sheet metal off, is it a good idea to retorque the heads? Are there any pros or cons to doing this?

Rob

Posted by: type47 Mar 27 2009, 02:02 PM

Engine is out of the car? I would think there is no harm in retorquing, I guess, theoretically, if the engine hasn't been run, that the torque should be the same as when done before. I would expect the torque to perhaps be different after the motor has gone through some heat cycles but it would be a real pain to retorque the heads then with the motor in since the upper head nuts would be hidden by the engine sheet metal.

Posted by: So.Cal.914 Mar 27 2009, 02:55 PM

If it's out why not check the torque on them. Follow the torque pattern in your manual.

Posted by: yeahmag Mar 27 2009, 05:32 PM

I typically only do this when the motor is brand spanking new. You get a "carbon" seal around the chamber and run the risk of upsetting that. I could be insane though...

Posted by: charliew Mar 27 2009, 11:39 PM

I took a 72 bug away from my son in 1986 because he kept drinking too much. He asked for it back last june. He's now 40. It has about 50 k on the original motor. We repainted all the tin, replaced the clutch and pressure plate and bearing so decided to do the seal and check the endplay. It was ok. I had a 009 dist on it in 86 but decided to try a vaccum advance one this time.
I also put a new oilpump/filter on it with new pushrod tubes.

While we were at it we checked the head torque and it was pretty loose. More than I expected it to be. We had driven the car before we tore it apart to redo it and it ran ok.

Posted by: yeahmag Mar 27 2009, 11:43 PM

Might check for the head studs pulling out. Type I cases have been known for that. I personally haven't run across one that needed re-torqued without a reason, but I have a fairly limited cross section...

Posted by: sean_v8_914 Mar 28 2009, 12:02 AM

you can not retorque rusty nuts on rusty stud. you can only try.
if it aint broke...

Posted by: LvSteveH Mar 28 2009, 04:07 PM

I broke a stud in an othewise healthy 3.6L a few years ago because I retorqued the head studs instead of just checking that they weren't broken. Only cost me about $3000

Kind of a freak thing really. As long as everything is clean with no corrosion issues I wouldn't be afraid to check them.