Hello, Ongoing head bolt saga continues.... The facts: 1982 1.6 Diesel Westy w/ 64K, new head installed by previous owner bout 1100 miles ago. He had the head installed by a diesel truck mechanic, but this was reportedly the first VW the mechanic had worked on. Things the rebuilder didn't do right: 1.) He didn't torgue the injectors to the proper spec. 2.) He didn't replace the heat shields. 3.) He used non-pressurized hose between the injectors... Thankfully, he did install a new timing belt, the slippage of which was the need for the new head in the first place. So at this point, the mechanic is one for four in the "did it right" category. I'm 100% sure that these head bolts (12 mm triple box) have not been turned at all since the head was installed. I'm paranoid that they weren't even torqued to spec. in the first place, but I have no way of knowing this for sure. (Or do I? My first question is this. Do the stretch bolts tighten, or loosen, as they are broke in?????) I've done my homework. Clymer (discredited in an archive posting on this subject) - suggests loosening the stretch bolts 30 degrees after 1000 miles before tightening them again. He doesn't say what to tighten them to however, which seems odd. I'm pretty sure this is a no-go however, as everywhere else I've read (and heard) says not to loosen the stretch bolts ever, period. So I think I can safely discard Clymer's advice. But it sounds to me like Clymer is inferring that the bolts loosen over time, and that you'd retighten them back to a specific value... As for Bentley - I've got both the Rabbit Diesel Manual and the early Vanagon manual. The early Vanagon manual ('80-'83) doesn't distinguish between the 11mm (non-strech) and 12mm (stretch) head bolts... It does say to turn the head bolts 1/4 turn after 1000 miles. The Rabbit manual, published later, does distinguish between the 11mm and 12mm head bolts. The Rabbit manual says for 12mm head bolts to turn the bolts 1/4 turn after 1000 miles, which is what nearly everyone who replied to my original query from the road of a few weeks ago suggested. My second question is this. Should I make sure these headbolts are at least a certain torque before I give them the extra quarter turn? (Clymer says 64 ft./lbs, and Bentley said 54 ft./lbs PLUS 3/4 of a turn afterwards for the rebuild....) My fear is that the rebuilder didn't torque them down properly to start with, and I'd really like to get a couple of years out of this head before I have to tear it down myself. Whaddya think? THANKS! John |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.