head bolts

[Angus76]

Hi folks. I have fitted a cylinder head to my 98 Explorer SOHC engine, But I for forgot to clean the oil galleries out after they were cleaned by the machine shop with chemical cleaner before surfacing, The problem I have now is some of the head bolts have stuck fast in the head & don't want to come undone. They were torqued to the right tension 23ft lb + 90. anyone had this problem with head bolts & can tell me how to fix it. thanks.

 

[Nadams01]

Hi folks. I have fitted a cylinder head to my 98 Explorer SOHC engine, But I for forgot to clean the oil galleries out after they were cleaned by the machine shop with chemical cleaner before surfacing, The problem I have now is some of the head bolts have stuck fast in the head & don't want to come undone. They were torqued to the right tension 23ft lb + 90. anyone had this problem with head bolts & can tell me how to fix it. thanks.

Well if the machine shop "decked" the heads and cleaned them then I wouldn't worry about cleaning the oil galleries as it should be cleaned out already. If your really worried about it then before you start the motor turn it over without spark plugs to get oil pressure up to the top end then you would know if the oil galleries are clogged. But headbolts are torque to yield, the threads stretch out to a specified amount to ensure snugness. That's why it's in degrees not ft lbs. You would need new headbolts to replace them even if the truck never ran. I use my m18 1/2 impact with a 10 mAh battery to crack them loose then take them out by hand. The longer the extension the more torque that is lost so it all depends. But a really big breaker bar always works.

 

[Angus76]

Well if the machine shop "decked" the heads and cleaned them then I wouldn't worry about cleaning the oil galleries as it should be cleaned out already. If your really worried about it then before you start the motor turn it over without spark plugs to get oil pressure up to the top end then you would know if the oil galleries are clogged. But headbolts are torque to yield, the threads stretch out to a specified amount to ensure snugness. That's why it's in degrees not ft lbs. You would need new headbolts to replace them even if the truck never ran. I use my m18 1/2 impact with a 10 mAh battery to crack them loose then take them out by hand. The longer the extension the more torque that is lost so it all depends. But a really big breaker bar always works.

 

[Angus76]

Thanks for that, I went to fit a new oil restrictor in to the head & found that it was almost desolved by the chemicals & quite a bit of rubbish through the oilways in the head,I did ask if they had cleaned the oil ways & they said they had done that, They did clean the block ok & I thought the heads would be done to but they didn't get cleaned probably because I told them I would do the valve seats myself as I have the gear to do that. I would rather fit new bolts & know it was right, I have sapent to much on the motor to chance it, I think the dirt would get into the hydraulic liftres & do damage. I Done them up whith a 3/8" drive without any trouble but I used a 1/2" drive 55 torx & shatered two of them trying So I ordered a T55 short socket for an impact wrench & I will see how that goes.

 

[Nadams01]

Thanks for that, I went to fit a new oil restrictor in to the head & found that it was almost desolved by the chemicals & quite a bit of rubbish through the oilways in the head,I did ask if they had cleaned the oil ways & they said they had done that, They did clean the block ok & I thought the heads would be done to but they didn't get cleaned probably because I told them I would do the valve seats myself as I have the gear to do that. I would rather fit new bolts & know it was right, I have sapent to much on the motor to chance it, I think the dirt would get into the hydraulic liftres & do damage. I Done them up whith a 3/8" drive without any trouble but I used a 1/2" drive 55 torx & shatered two of them trying So I ordered a T55 short socket for an impact wrench & I will see how that goes.

I have blown even my gear wrench torx bits out, impact highly recommended. Just make sure you get new head bolts and oil them as well. I would upgrade your lifters and pushrods to a pushrod w/oiling hole, I don't think the factory ones have that. I have done lots of lifters on dodge 5.7L (haha hemi go tick tick) and finding true hardened lifters are almost impossible due to parts supplies, I hope you found a set of good hydraulic hardened lifters. I have a new LKQ 4.0 and my lifters tick sometimes, big sad but I will have to go in and upgrade. Maybe do a set of rockers of 1:8 ratio.

 

[Angus76]

I have new head bolts ready to go in, Just have to get the old bolts out. Head tension seems to be a bit difficult to find the right tension,some say 23 ft lbs + 90 others say 23 + 90 + 90 factory settings would be good to have to know for certain.

 

[Angus76]

Hi boys. I tried to move my head bolts with a torx 55 impact socket but it twists the T55 socket at the bolt head. anyone out there have any more suggestions because I am running out of ideas. I have tensioned a lot of cylinder heads over the years but never struck anything like this, I don't won't to buy impact wrench just to use once & that might not move them either, a 500mm breaker bar should move them. I am open to any suggestions. thank you

 

[donalds]

Pipe

 

[Angus76]

Hi. Back again, The T55 impact socket shattered trying to undo the head bolts, So back to round one. the only way I could get the bolts out was to drill down into the head of the bolts with drifferent sized drill working up to close to 12mm, The head of the bolts pop of & sink back down into the bole about 3/8", so I could see why the head bolts need to be replaced, they sure strech well. I had allready got new bolts so I will get on with my rebuild now. thanks for your help.