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Author Topic: Are 2.3L head bolts re-usable?  (Read 2432 times)

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Offline Pinto5.0

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Are 2.3L head bolts re-usable?
« on: February 05, 2013, 12:42:40 PM »
I've never had to swap a 2.3 head until now & I remember hearing or reading that turbo head bolts were single use & should never be re-used. If that's true does that apply to ALL 2.3 head bolts or just the turbo ones?
 
I've always re-used small block & 6 banger head bolts over the years so this is odd to me. I'm also assuming the bolts are torqued dry rather than lubing the threads?
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Offline beegle55

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Re: Are 2.3L head bolts re-usable?
« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2013, 03:44:35 PM »
It's a good rule of thumb to replace head bolts no matter manufacture reccomendation s. Any bolts that have a specific torque range and especially due to the sensative nature of head bolts for integrity, I would replace. Just my 2 cents although in the case of these motors or the 2.8L I have never had heard an official word. I will check my manuals when I get home and see what it says.

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Offline Pinturbo75

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Re: Are 2.3L head bolts re-usable?
« Reply #2 on: February 05, 2013, 06:21:02 PM »
sorry to disagree..... the 6 point headbolts are not reusable,,, the 12 point headbolts are reusable..... not only are they reusable but some of the big horsepower 2.3 guys have recently been testing both headstuds and headbolts and have found the factory 12 point headbolts have a better clamping force than the arp headstuds... they reach further into the block and cause less deck distortion than the studs do.....arp was contacted about this and they are not willing to manufacture a new stud kit for the 2.3.....if you have extra 12 points laying around hang on to them.... they are not made anylonger.....
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Offline Pinto5.0

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Re: Are 2.3L head bolts re-usable?
« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2013, 06:38:01 PM »
sorry to disagree..... the 6 point headbolts are not reusable,,, the 12 point headbolts are reusable..... not only are they reusable but some of the big horsepower 2.3 guys have recently been testing both headstuds and headbolts and have found the factory 12 point headbolts have a better clamping force than the arp headstuds... they reach further into the block and cause less deck distortion than the studs do.....arp was contacted about this and they are not willing to manufacture a new stud kit for the 2.3.....if you have extra 12 points laying around hang on to them.... they are not made anylonger.....

That's good to know. I have several sets of 12 point bolts. I was planning to go to ARP studs in my wagon motor if they weren't re-usable because I was planning to swap that head at least once down the road but I won't waste the money knowing this.
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Offline r4pinto

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Re: Are 2.3L head bolts re-usable?
« Reply #4 on: February 05, 2013, 07:18:31 PM »
I actually "collect" 12 pt head bolts just in case. I got two sets worth on standby just in case I need to replace one.
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Offline nothingtodo

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Re: Are 2.3L head bolts re-usable?
« Reply #5 on: February 05, 2013, 08:50:44 PM »
These bolts are not TTY, so they are good to reuse. As long as they are not stretched they are ok.

Offline Pinto5.0

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Re: Are 2.3L head bolts re-usable?
« Reply #6 on: February 05, 2013, 09:08:51 PM »
These bolts are not TTY, so they are good to reuse. As long as they are not stretched they are ok.

How do you identify a fatigued bolt?
'73 Sedan (I'll get to it)
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'80 hatch(Restoring to be my son's 1st car)~Callisto
'71 half hatch (bucket list Pinto)~Ghost
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