Thread: 3.9 v8 loose head bolts

What does the manual say about replacing the head bolts every time the head is removed

maybe that is why so many are coming loose

Originally Posted by harry

pulled the heads off a 3.9 today,
several head bolts , the outer ones beside the exhaust ports, were basically finger tight,
of the inner bolts, many only needed a light pull to undo them and only two really needed a lot of force to undo them, but still not what i thought was correct torque.

has anyone had experience of loose head bolts on a 3.9?

i should add that this engine was repaired due overheating, sort of recently, and has had overheating issues ever since.

the repairer shall remain nameless, as i don't do that to people, but i suspect that the heads may have been torqued to the 20 nm, but they missed the 180deg last step.

Harry
regardless of what w/shop manuals say ,I always use new head bolts. Eliminates any potential problems.

Justin

I thought they were designed for one use. They stretch when you torque them up don't they?