ok since i have been using this site i have heard alot of people talking about retorquing the heads i find my self asking how offen does this have to be done at times it sounds as if you have to do it every week for those of us who use them as dd's and drive alot? just a question any answers would be apreciated.

"young bucks bring fresh ideas sometimes they work sometimes they dont but all the same it was an idea it wasnt the first it wont be the last either!"

Depending on what make of head gaskets you use,some recommend retorquing the head bolts after a period of time of driving.You do it once and in most cases thats it.Some don't require retorquing.Depends on who's gaskets you buy.This is only done if you replace the head gaskets at some point.You dont need to do anything with existing motors.   

  

What Mark says is true, but as extra insurance, I would retorque after a few miles of driving no matter whose gaskets are used.  Once is enough.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

If you have steel head gaskets I say retorque somewhere between 250 to 500 miles down the road on a new engine. Comp. gaskets don't need it but it sure don't hurt to do it.

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

ok thank you guys for the information i was starting to think my truck was going to turn out ot be a nightmare

"young bucks bring fresh ideas sometimes they work sometimes they dont but all the same it was an idea it wasnt the first it wont be the last either!"

I like to retorque the intake manifold bolts after running it some if I have removed/changed it.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

 I always retorque, and I invariably find one or two bolts/ or nuts has loosened some from the original number. Kinda proves to me that it's worth the effort. That applies to either type of head or intake gasket.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

I seem to remember there were special offset Ford tools that allowed access to all the head bolts without removing any parts? If so, I always wondered if they could be used with a torque wrench somehow?

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

my expierience with torque in off set or hard to reach areas is that it is always possible to adapt to tools with a torque wrench , however every adapter , extension , ect .. reduces the torque applied to the nut or bolt unless it is accurately compensated for .