C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Possible problem torquing heads??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 15, 2012 | 12:49 AM
  #1  
98Redbird's Avatar
98Redbird
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 234
Likes: 9
Default Possible problem torquing heads??

Hey guys, I was installing heads/cam tonight and everything went smoothly. The only thing that happened that concerned me is while torquing the heads I torqued all head bolts in order to 22lb/ft and then went thru and turned them all 90 degrees. then went through and torqued 1-8 another 90 degrees.

Then went I went to do the last two (9 and 10) to 50 degrees. Well the problem is, I was used to turning the bolt 90 degrees after doing so many, so instead of turning the first one 50 degrees, I probably turned it closer to 75-80 degrees. The rest I got turned to about 50 degrees, but that one is about 25 degrees too far. I just left that one that tight because I know that once I loosen it that bolt is ruined and I need a new one.


My question is, is this going to cause any problems? Are there any chances that I maybe damaged the threads or damaged something by going too tight with it??
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2012 | 05:24 AM
  #2  
vettenuts's Avatar
vettenuts
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Default

Without knowing specifics of how the bolt is designed (material, etc.) and where it is on its load curve it would be hard to say exactly where you stand. However, if you used a GM gasket (pretty forgiving) I would finish assembly and leave the bolt alone unless you have an issue later. I wouldn't think it would lose preload from what you did. Just keep an eye on it.

Good luck.
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2012 | 09:39 AM
  #3  
98Redbird's Avatar
98Redbird
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 234
Likes: 9
Default

Originally Posted by vettenuts
Without knowing specifics of how the bolt is designed (material, etc.) and where it is on its load curve it would be hard to say exactly where you stand. However, if you used a GM gasket (pretty forgiving) I would finish assembly and leave the bolt alone unless you have an issue later. I wouldn't think it would lose preload from what you did. Just keep an eye on it.

Good luck.
Would there be any problem with removing the bolt, buying a new one from GM and torquing that bolt properly? It was one of the very last ones torqued and all the other bolts are torqued properly, so I wouldn't imagine pulling that one and replacing it with a properly torqued bolt would hurt anything?? Just for peace of mind?

Thx
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2012 | 09:49 AM
  #4  
98Redbird's Avatar
98Redbird
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 234
Likes: 9
Default

Well actually, can you even buy single head bolts or do you have to buy the set?
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2012 | 10:45 AM
  #5  
racetchr's Avatar
racetchr
Pro
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 545
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC
Default

I dont think you will have any problems. I had made a torque error last head removal and had to buy another bolt set. ARP's only way to go if you have any mods at all.
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2012 | 01:08 PM
  #6  
corvettebob1's Avatar
corvettebob1
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,315
Likes: 17
From: Near Jacksonville Fl.
Default

Actually they are torque to yield bolts so what you have done over torqued and stretched the bolt so I would remove it and start over with a new bolt.
You may have lost clamp load when the bolt stretched so why take a chance?
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2012 | 01:45 PM
  #7  
All_Motor_C5LS6's Avatar
All_Motor_C5LS6
Drifting
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,447
Likes: 1
From: Katy TX
Default

Why not just use a torque wrench?
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2012 | 01:52 PM
  #8  
baxsom's Avatar
baxsom
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
Default

Originally Posted by All_Motor_C5LS6
Why not just use a torque wrench?
because the GM bolts are not torqued to a number of ft/lbs but are instead turned a specific number of degrees.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-9

Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

 Joe Kucinski
Old Mar 16, 2012 | 10:37 AM
  #9  
98Redbird's Avatar
98Redbird
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 234
Likes: 9
Default

Alright, guys, I picked up a new bolt from GM, was like $2.50... Pulled the old bolt, cleaned the threads, installed the new bolt and torqued properly!

Thx
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2012 | 11:43 AM
  #10  
nullpointer's Avatar
nullpointer
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,823
Likes: 42
From: East Aurora NY
Default

Originally Posted by 98Redbird
Alright, guys, I picked up a new bolt from GM, was like $2.50... Pulled the old bolt, cleaned the threads, installed the new bolt and torqued properly!

Thx
What was the part #
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2012 | 12:13 PM
  #11  
SaberD's Avatar
SaberD
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 65
From: Rochester Hills MI
Default

Either replace all the bolts or leave it alone. If you try to replace the single bolt, the the torque pattern will be thrown off completely. Since you already stretched the other bolts, they would have to be replaced to get the proper sequence again. IMO, the torque pattern is more important than being off 30 degrees on 1 bolt.

If the bolt did not break, you should be fine. The bolt will most likely break before it strips the threads out. Because it is a torque to yeild application, the force that the threads in the block can hold should be higher than the ultimate strength of the bolt by design. This is why I always use factory bolts for torque to yeild applications. You never know if aftermarket bolts have the proper safety factor. Although, I'm not sure which one you would consider more of a pain - stripping the threads or having a bolt broken off in the block
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2012 | 12:15 PM
  #12  
nullpointer's Avatar
nullpointer
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,823
Likes: 42
From: East Aurora NY
Default

With TTY bolts if you went too far, and then backed it off a bit would that ruin the clamping strength?
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2012 | 01:15 PM
  #13  
Trios's Avatar
Trios
Drifting
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,628
Likes: 15
From: Seattle WA
Default

Originally Posted by nullpointer
With TTY bolts if you went too far, and then backed it off a bit would that ruin the clamping strength?
Yes. The TTY bolts actually stretch when you torque them, so to back them off again would mean you're essentially removing that bolt so far as clamping forces are concerned.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Possible problem torquing heads??





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:23 AM.

story-0
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-2
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

Slideshow: 5 most and least popular Corvette model years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-08 13:25:01


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette buyer's guide

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-17 16:41:08


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)

Slideshow: 10 things C8 Corvette owners hate, but won't tell you.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-01 18:36:07


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!

Slideshow: Should you add one of these incredible Corvettes to your garage?

By Brett Foote | 2026-04-01 18:14:05


VIEW MORE
story-9
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

Slideshow: Every Corvette Grand Sport explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-26 07:13:44


VIEW MORE