Head Bolt Question
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New User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Ohio
Head Bolt Question
I'm in the process of rebuilding my 2.8 for my 85 BII. I was reading in the Chiltons Manual about not re-using the head bolts. I called 2 ford dealers and 6 other auto parts stores and nobody can get new ones!I was told that they don't make them any more! My questions are:
1- If I can't get new ones, why can't I use the old ones?
2- Is there another bolt that I could use in place of the old bolts?
Thanks for any and all help!!!!
Larry
1- If I can't get new ones, why can't I use the old ones?
2- Is there another bolt that I could use in place of the old bolts?
Thanks for any and all help!!!!
Larry
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Joined: Nov 2002
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Head Bolt Question
You can not reuse them because when you torque them down the bolt gets longer or shorter something like that. I had to get new head bolts for my 2.9 for the same reason. Take one of your old head bolts down to your local auto parts store and compare it to a 2.9 head bolt it is worth a shot at least.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Peoria USA
Head Bolt Question
when i re did my engine and i couldnt find head bolts, i went to lowes and spent about an hour tryin to find the right size, but i finally found them.
Hope this helps
Trent Hamilton
Hope this helps
Trent Hamilton
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Joined: Aug 2001
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Head Bolt Question
Eeeeek! Those bolts from Lowe's are almost certainly not strong enough!
As for the 2.8 head bolts, they can be reused! The 2.8 didn't use torque-to-yield head bolts.
When a shop manual says to torque head bolts to x ft-lbs (perhaps in several steps), then they are plain old reusable bolts. If the manual says torque to y ft-lbs and then turn 90 degrees, they are non-reusable torque-to-yield bolts.
As for the 2.8 head bolts, they can be reused! The 2.8 didn't use torque-to-yield head bolts.
When a shop manual says to torque head bolts to x ft-lbs (perhaps in several steps), then they are plain old reusable bolts. If the manual says torque to y ft-lbs and then turn 90 degrees, they are non-reusable torque-to-yield bolts.
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New User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Ohio
Head Bolt Question
Thanks for the info guys but I bought new head bolts. I got them from a place in Texas call Parts International. They carry the orginal ford parts that the ford dealers don't stock or can't order.There phone number in 1-888-727-0418. If you are looking for hard to find parts you might give them a call.Thanks again for all the good info.Larry
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Head Bolt Question
Because the factory likely used bolts even stronger than grade 8 (or 10.9 for metric bolts). You might notice that head bolts don't have strength markings like other bolts (dashes for SAE, numbers for metric).
Further, those hardware store grade 8 bolts likely aren't grade 8 - they could be cheap Chinese counterfeit bolts.
Further, those hardware store grade 8 bolts likely aren't grade 8 - they could be cheap Chinese counterfeit bolts.
