Replaced the head gasket and head bolts (used Fel-Pro) then after about 3000 miles the oil pump went out, planning on using a new short block for replacement, do I need to get a new set of head bolts or can the Fel-Pro's be reused? Thanks in advance

NO, buy a set from ARP. Not expensive.

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: NO, buy a set from ARP. Not expensive.

I agree. Best to replace the head bols when rebuilding. They permanently stretch when torqued. While they could be reused, you get a questionable head seal.

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87GT 3.4 Turbo Best 0-60 5.2 seconds
http://turbofiero.fierojoe.com/turbo.htm

thanks for the replies forgot to mention it's a 2.5 but don't guess that matters, definately don't want any questionable seals

Myself, I wouldn't bother buying new head bolts.. I've rebuilt a lot of different motors from mild to wild and never used anything but the factory head bolts that I took out of the engine before the build.

I've never had any problems, but then again, maybe I've just been lucky.

Good luck!

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Andrew MacPherson
86 2M6 - Stock
82 Z28 - Mod'd to the nuts
86 Firebrid - Beater

I agree with Mac, unless the head bolts are specifically "torque to yield" bolts, they can be reused providing they are in good shape. Check the threads on the bolt aand chase the threads in the block with a tap and they should be fine. Remember to use sealant on those bolts that go into the water jacket.

I thougt the factory ones are one time use, I use ARP, you can reuse them for sure.

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87SE 2.8 w/5speed(waiting for a 3.8 Buick GN setup trasplant)
85SE 2.5 w/5speed (for sale)
1987 Buick GN(10.70@124MPH)
1987 Turbo T
1992 GMC Typhoon
Other cars; JaguarXJ6, AMG 500SEL,Astro & Legacy

quote Originally posted by Mac: Myself, I wouldn't bother buying new head bolts.. I've rebuilt a lot of different motors from mild to wild and never used anything but the factory head bolts that I took out of the engine before the build. I've never had any problems, but then again, maybe I've just been lucky. Good luck!

The standard head bolts on most engines are reusable. The Fiero V6 ( not sure about the four) uses a "stretch" type bolt which should only be torqued once. Take a look in the Fel Pro catalog for more info.

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87GT 3.4 Turbo Best 0-60 5.2 seconds
http://turbofiero.fierojoe.com/turbo.htm

I would not use them over. With a cast iron head and block you probably wouldn't have a problem, but for $20-$30 why chance it. ARP my be a little overkill for a normally aspirated engine, but are very good quality none the less. Do you really want to risk a leaking head gasket?

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LS1 in and running :)
http://ls1swap.tripod.com/

The 2.5 4 cylinder uses "torque-to-yield" head bolts. Use once and discard. Fel-Pro sells a set for . . . uhhh, I forget . . . less than $20, I think.

All the Fiero bolts are Torque-to-yeild bolts... They are pretty cheap. Just replace them and be happy and safe.

My 4.9 uses reuseable bolts... At $20 ***EACH*** (20 total) I happy as a pig in shizzat

Explain this to me:

How can a head bolt be torque-to-yield?

I was always taught that TTY fasteners have to be measured when torqued so that you know you've reached the correct stretch on the bolt. It's common that connecting rod bolts are TTY because you can easily measure them with a digital caliper or micrometer. Any bolt that goes into a blind hole, or into an engine block could not be TTY (from my training) becasue you cannot measure the bolt once it's installed.

As far as I understand it, they are forged to X spec, and when torqued to Y torque, they stretch to Z. This allows some flex in the motor after it warms up and stuff. How on EARTH do you measure a bolt that's in a hole already?!? X-ray vision?

However you want to define them... the L4 head bolts are TTY and are not to be used more than once. Reusing them is a good way to have one break. If it doesn't break durring install it can do it at anytime afterwards. Even if they don't snap, they may be too weak to maintain propper head seal.

Like all TTY head bolts, the L4 bolts are torqued to X FP(or NM), then rotated Y degrees. Also, not all the bolts use the same numbers. At least one is different from the rest.

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11-Sept-01, The day the world as we knew it ended.

quote Originally posted by Mach10: All the Fiero bolts are Torque-to-yield bolts...

Sorry, but for the record, I really don't think so. Not for the head bolts used on the 2.8 V6, anyway. When you torque the bolts to the specified torque, they do not yield. The Duke motor may be a different story (I'm a "Duke" dunce, so I really don't know about those)?

1986 GM shop manual describes removing the 2.8's head bolts, and cleaning them for re-use. One wouldn't clean the old bolts just so that you could toss them and buy new ones !

Anyway, using new bolts certainly can't hurt, (as long as they are of the correct form and properties), so do whatever makes you feel good.

[This message has been edited by StuGood (edited 08-23-2002).]

Hey for a lousy $20 bucks , get a set of ARP head bolts . I would not re-use head bolts , unless they were ARP . If your gonna do it , do it right the first time , less headache's and one less thing to worry about .

Galen Smith
Red 85 Sport Coupe
Founder of Suncoast Fiero Club

For The Record

2.5 4-cyl head bolts are torque-to-yield, and cannot be re-used. You tighten them in 3 steps, using the appropriate sequence for each step. The bolt #9 in the tightening sequence (closest to the battery) has a different torque spec from the rest.

The last time I had head work done on a Duke (1986 coupe), the machine shop charged me $19.95 + tax for a set of ARP head bolts.

[edited for correction]

[This message has been edited by Blacktree (edited 08-24-2002).]

quote Originally posted by Blacktree: For The Record 1984-85 4-cyl: Head bolts are not torque-to-yield

Yes and no.

The original-design head bolts were not torque-to-yield type, and some shop manuals still specify simple torque values for head bolts in these years. However, revised specifications call for use of torque-to-yield bolts in all Dukes. (per Ogre) As far as I know, all new Duke head bolts are torque-to-yield type.

It's less expensive in the long run to just fork up a few bucks for new head bolts. Personally, any bolt I have to torque, I replace when doing a motor. Never had a motor launch because of a failed bolt as a result. Think of it as a cheap insurance policy.

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As Alice Cooper once said...

quote Feed My.... Frankenstein!

DO NOT reuse 84/5 L4 head bolts! (V6, I still would not reuse the OE bolts. TTY or not.)

Read the god dam_ recall info. All the older head bolts are part of the recalls for all years except 88 L4. The exhaust side bolts are known weak and known to break even in factory installs.... The recall packs for 84-87 include the exhaust side head bolts! The worst one is the factory exhaust side bolt between cyl's 2 & 3.

For that reason alone, NEVER reuse L4 head bolts. Even if they are not part of the recall pack, 88 L4 head bolts are TTY and must not be reused.

Sense your on the subject, what about the main bolts on the 3.4.

Yucon