Author Topic: Torque wrench to loosen head bolts?  (Read 584 times)

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Offline TurboFource

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Torque wrench to loosen head bolts?
« on: Monday,December 28, 2020, 04:18:31 AM »
I received Miles Wilkins Lotus Twin-Cam Engine book for Christmas :)

In Chapter 2 Engine strip-down he says to use a torque wrench set to 100 lb ft to progressively release the ten head bolts and they will come loose with a loud crack..... I was taught to never use a torque wrench to loosen things...... :confused: it is not supposed to be good for the torque wrench...that is what a breaker bar is supposed to be used for.
« Last Edit: Monday,December 28, 2020, 04:20:32 AM by TurboFource »
The more I do the more I find I need to do....

Offline Dilkris

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Re: Torque wrench to loosen head bolts?
« Reply #1 on: Monday,December 28, 2020, 04:45:03 AM »
  :I-agree:I believe the first edition of this book was published in 1988 - so maybe this was the 1988 approach to engine building and tool use??   :confused: 

Offline jbcollier

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Re: Torque wrench to loosen head bolts?
« Reply #2 on: Monday,December 28, 2020, 05:18:49 AM »
+1, no torque wrench to loosen.

BUT

Loosen the bolts in small steps slowly in REVERSE order of the torque sequence.
« Last Edit: Monday,December 28, 2020, 10:06:22 AM by jbcollier »

Offline cwtech

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Re: Torque wrench to loosen head bolts?
« Reply #3 on: Monday,December 28, 2020, 06:26:46 AM »
I received Miles Wilkins Lotus Twin-Cam Engine book for Christmas :)

Wasn't there a copy in that box of books?

Offline TurboFource

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Re: Torque wrench to loosen head bolts?
« Reply #4 on: Monday,December 28, 2020, 08:42:45 AM »
CW....not that I can find
The more I do the more I find I need to do....

Offline TurboFource

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Re: Torque wrench to loosen head bolts?
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday,December 29, 2020, 07:24:44 AM »
The book also says to cut .005" off the caps and the block prior to line-boring. I was taught the material always comes off the caps (on connecting rods too) to maintain the original center line distances, deck height etc.
The more I do the more I find I need to do....

Offline jbcollier

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Re: Torque wrench to loosen head bolts?
« Reply #6 on: Tuesday,December 29, 2020, 07:53:24 AM »
Well, it all depends.  The block has not been machined before? Building a race engine or blue-printing a never prepped before engine?  Then you might trim 0.005 off the block to allow you to get the crank's axis line perfect.  This is normal race-prep practice.  You only need to do it once.  Next time, you just shave the caps.

However, normal practice for overhauling an inservice engine is to just trim the caps and that is all I would do with the following caveat.

These engines are getting to the point where they have been overhauled many times.  You're no longer trying to correct manufacturing tolerance variations.  In the interests of the viability of future rebuilds, it is important to check first and only perform necessary machining.  A example of this is the cylinder head on both the TC and Renault engines.  Most machine shops routinely cut the head surface true without checking if it is necessary.  It doesn't take many cuts, especially if they are carelessly large, and your head is toast.  Machine shops also routinely resize rods, bore blocks to the next oversize, etc.  All well and good for an engine that is never going to be overhauled again but a problem for our cars.

Just keep in mind, check first and only do what is required.  Future owners will thank you.

Offline TurboFource

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Re: Torque wrench to loosen head bolts?
« Reply #7 on: Tuesday,December 29, 2020, 09:23:54 AM »
Very true JB, most engines never even get to be rebuilt and end up as scrap. I am hoping to own this for many years!
« Last Edit: Tuesday,December 29, 2020, 09:26:23 AM by TurboFource »
The more I do the more I find I need to do....