Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 20:32:27 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: Head Retorquing On New Engine
In-Reply-To: <851A1826C2045C4BB5554C352A02D0BE013DB6@neptune.fdsmfg.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
If the studs are good, the cap nuts new, and things are properly
torqued, there is no need to re-torque the heads. If the heads do come
loose, it is because the studs are failing. Re-torqueing will only
stretch the studs' further and in the future, they will loosen again, or
snap. Also, when they get re-torqued, the sealant under the cap nut will
get disturbed and this may cause leakage of coolant into the oil or
externally.
Re-torqueing heads is a left over task from engines with soft gaskets
that would compress and loosen shortly after installation and a few
heat-cool cycles. The Waterboxer head sits directly on the cylinder with
only that metal gasket. The only compression is actually the studs
stretching. Like a spring, if they are stretched too far, they will
loose their shape. Also, if they have been overheated or over torqued,
they need replacement.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Stephen DeMocko
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 4:42 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Head Retorquing On New Engine
Volks,
I too am nervous 4k mi. into my Go-Westy 2.2L. It has always been my
belief that you should re-torque the heads, but when I questioned
Go-Westy about this topic I was told it was unnecessary.
Stephen DeMocko
('85 Westy Luci)
-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Chase [mailto:roadguy@ROADHAUS.COM]
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 1:31 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Head Retorquing On New Engine
Richard,
I totally agree.
In the case of my AVP ... we did check these at installation.
All seemed fine.
But 10,000 - 12,000 miles later 9 were loose enough to cause combustions
gasses to
leak into the coolant.
larry chase
roadhaus.com
- - -
On Fri Jan 27 14:17 , Richard A Jones sent:
>
>I'd suggest that ALL rebuilds be checked before
>installation, not just AVP. My '81 aircooled has
>an engine from an east coast rebuilder and it
>had some through-bolts that were not torqued
>properly and later the heads act as if they are not
>torqued. It leaks coolant when warming up, but
>that coolant isn't an issue. ;-)
>
>I would check all the engine and head bolts before
>putting an engine in. It would be worth the
>small extra cost compared to later. (The aircooled
>has all that tin in the way after installation.)
>
> Richard A Jones
> Boulder, Colorado
>