Vortec Head Bolt Torque? RANT!

[TomJ]

New to Vortecs and have one in the driveway I'm building for a buddy. Ready to install heads, but the friggin' torque horses**t is driving me nuts!

Why can't Chevy just give a torque reading or step-torque instead of "tighten short bolts an addition 55 degrees", "tighten medium length bolts an addition 65 degrees", "tighten long bolts an addition 75 degrees"?????


So WTF are you supposed to do, weld a degree wheel to your wrench?

I guess I'm just going to use the old SBC spec for torquing and have him sell the damn thing as soon as it's broken in!

[Josh]

They make a torque indicator to show you the number of degrees to turn it. The bolts are Torque-to-Yield type, they are stretched a certain amount to achieve the maximum torque limit and the strongest holding force, whereas regular torquing doesn't provide as accurate of a torquing force. You may be able to rent the tool to use from a part store, I'm not sure though.

[1972C10]

And if your reusing bolts you need to check the length

[jrcmedic]

I had a similar gripe when I did my Olds cutlass. Same deal. You should definately use new bolts and what I did is use the torque wrench like a clock hand, knowing 360 degrees is a full rotation I just pulled the approxamate degrees by going (for example) to 3:00 position for one length bolt and 4:00 for the other. it's still running after two years no problem!
Don't even ask me what I think of Fords "better idea". Good lord!

[99-2door]

I wasn't aware of this, I need to look into finding one of those tools before building my engine.

[Steveo_supremo]

The torque angle method is just a slightly more accurate way of stretching the bolt the right amount for the proper clamping force. With vortec heads you CAN re-use the bolts and you CAN torque them just as you would any other small block chevy. I have done it many times with no problems whatsoever.

[Z16]

Could be worse. A 3.8F**d head torque procedure is six or seven steps. You must torque them then loosen three turns, then retorque, then turn a few degrees. Must be another "better idea". Probably why they had so many head gasket issues

[jrcmedic]

Originally Posted by Z16

Could be worse. A 3.8F**d head torque procedure is six or seven steps. You must torque them then loosen three turns, then retorque, then turn a few degrees. Must be another "better idea". Probably why they had so many head gasket issues

You see what I mean? I'm not the only one that's done battle with " the better idea team"

[Josh]

Originally Posted by Z16

Could be worse. A 3.8F**d head torque procedure is six or seven steps. You must torque them then loosen three turns, then retorque, then turn a few degrees. Must be another "better idea". Probably why they had so many head gasket issues

LOL I just did that last weekend, that is the most anoying head job I have ever done...... Torque to yield bolts are a good idea, but when the regular bolts have worked well for 50+ year I dont see why they had to go and "improve" them, especially in fords case.......