So, how screwed am I? I just put my heads back on. Before doing so, I chased the head bolt threads as far as they would go, all the way through to the water jackets on most of the holes. Got 'em all nice and clean. Took my new ARP head bolts and washers out of the box and proceeded to torque everything down as I should: spiral pattern, 3 steps, 65 lbs on the last, then loosen and re-torque at 65 again. All with thread sealer on the threads and assembly lube under the boltheads. Went to clean everything up, and there was the bag of washers - untouched! Doe! (Smacks forehead).

The old bolts didn't have any washers on them. Wondering if I have to go back in and re-do everything.

 

The stock bolts don't have washers but they do have shoulders on them. You need the wasters to distribute the clamping pressure evenly on the embossed area around the bolt hole.

If it were me I'd redo them.

 

Well, the thing is, the new bolts, ARP's, have that SAME flared head on them, almost identical to the stock bolts. If anything, they are a tiny fraction smaller than the flares on the stock bolts, maybe a millimeter smaller at the most. I dunno, maybe I'm just trying to justify not having to go through removing the bolts, taking off the heads, rechasing all the holes again, cleaning the bolts off, and redoing everything. Hell, I might have to get new bolts, having already torqued these (?)

I used to laugh at people who did stupid things like this. I suppose I still will. Only now Ill be laughing WITH them not AT them. Now on to my exhaust gasket problem.....

 

well, i almost dont want to mention this, as it might make you want to not go to the trouble of removing them, but my center head bolts on both sides didnt have clearance enough to use the washers, and i havent had a problem. then again, i am missing two, your missing them all. i'd go back now, before you mess up something else.

 

I'd redo it, but I am **** about such things. The washers also keep from galling the head bolt surface.

 

Hmm. Tried to post a response and it didn't take, so I'll try again.

So, would it be OK to remove one bolt at a time, reapply the white stuff on the threads, the grey stuff under the bolt head flange, put on the friggin' washer, and re-torque at 65 lbs? Or do I need to take 'em all out, remove the heads, re-chase the threads and basically do everything all over again?