Chris, I don't know what the advice of the list will be but the advice of an
old (and today I feel it) British car mechanic is to retorque as soon as the
engine has come up to temperature (when you should also re-adjust the
valves, of course.) And, yes, you do it while the engine is hot. The only
heads you re-torque cold are aluminum heads.
You will be surprised to find that every head nut takes some more torque.
Imagine, now, if you will, leaving the head that loose for 500 miles. Asking
for trouble, isn't it? Especially with the engine's known propensity to weep
coolant out over the spark plugs.
Lawrie
British Sportscar Center
-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Delling <saschris@flash.net>
To: mgs@autox.team.net <mgs@autox.team.net>
Date: Monday, September 07, 1998 6:26 PM
Subject: More Cylinder Head Questions
>O.K., based on the advise of the list, I opted to not try re-torquing my
>head, and replaced the head gasket. I checked for flatness with a straight
>edge, and the head is not warped.
>
>Now everything is back together. I know that the head needs to be
>re-torqued. My question is: When is the best time to do this? Is
>re-torquing at 500 miles sufficient? Should it be done sooner? I have
even
>heard from one source that I should re-torque after bringing the motor up
to
>temperature for the first time, and then again after some mileage
>accumulates. Please advise!
>
>Regards,
>
>Chris Delling
>
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