head gasket ??

[madkaw]

Okay ,

I've realized I have screwed up and now need some advice. I am putting my engine together-fresh rebuild and realized that I put the washers under the head bolts upside down:stupid: . Convex instead of concave down. Should I take the bolts out one by one and retorque as I go or should I remove and reinstall all and to proper sequence. Will this effect the gasket in anyway. This is a new gasket and the motor hasn't run yet. The timing chain is on and timed.

You wonder what your thinking when you do this crap!

[zbane]

You wonder what your thinking when you do this crap!

You were thinking I WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR!

My suggestion, and that is all it is, would be to split the difference.

Go with the proper torquing order from your book. Unscrew, flip and tighten to appropriate torque in the order the book says. That way everything stays tight, no chance of messing up the gasket...

Like I said, though, that's just a suggestion, but I hope it makes sense.

[Ed]

I would say leave well enough alone. The only reason I can see for having the washers facing up is to prevent gouging the aluminum surface of the camtower/head. You have already done this. But if it will make you sleep better then go ahead and flip. Loosten all, flip, tighten in sequence. Don't move the head and your gasket should be fine.

[RogerZ]

yeah if it really would make you feel better loosen all bolts, remove then retorque to proper spec. but I think leave if you won't lie awake nights worrying. Also when you torque down did all the bolts go in easily by hand. Torque spec is for a free lubricated bolt. When I did my 81 I had two or three bolts that were hard to turn in. Wire brushed them and then shot cleaner down the bolt hole. relubed them and they went in easily. you should be able to bottom them on the head just using your fingers. If you torque down bolts that are hard to get in anyway you are not getting the proper tension on that bolt and could cause gasket failure at that point. Too bad we can't use hydraulically tensioned bolts like they have on large marine Diesels. That system is too slick.