Head Bolt issue 98 SC2
 

I have the cylinder head installed and torqued according to the sequence in the Haynes Repair Manual It states "clean the threads of all corrosion" and tighten in sequence to 48 ft-lbs Then you remove the bolts. The head bolts are tightening in steps of to 37 ft-lbs. The last torque sequence is tighten an additional 90 degrees. Now here comes my question. Last year I bought new head bolts and put them in a parts cabinet but in the following year collecting parts they got pushed to the back and my 80 year old brain forgot about them. Now 3 years ago I had to change a head on a Saturn Ion and the head bolts were Torque to Yield bolts thus needing new bolts. The torquing was very similar to what I just did on the 98 engine head. That bothered me but the repair manual did not say to use new bolts it states clean the corrosion and to me that means the old bolts. In the meantime I found the box of new bolts! My question are these cylinder head bolts TTY bolts thus one time use only or can I reuse the old bolts? If they are one time use can I replace them with the new bolts by removing them one at a time in the same sequence i put them in and torquing each one before i take the next bolt out. What have others done on the forum when they had to do say a head gasket?

I believe those are TTY head bolts. They certainly seem to share the same step-wise tightening sequence as TTY bolts.

Probably best to remove the bolts evenly and replace with a new set of TTY.

Others may chime in with different opinions.

Yes Derf, opinions are all over the place on this. On a Saturn FB page there are supposedly former Saturn techs that said they used the old bolts all the time and then other have stated to changed them. I figure since I found the new bolts to put them in but the question is how is the best way to do it. The engine is completely done with head, timing chain and cover to the oil pan. Some suggested I take everything apart including new head gasket! I believe there must be a better way to skin this cat. I dont want to remove all of them at once because I believe i would have to mess with the timing chain. There is a reason for putting the head on before the timing chain. I cant help but think removing all the bolts with timing chain still in place would cause some forward slight tipping tension on the head. That is why I think removing #1 center intake side bolt and placing the new bolt in place and torque procedure with the 48 Ft-lbs then move to next bolt remove and torque to 48 Ft-lbs until i have finished all the bolts. Where I would differ, I would not take out all of them at once but take the first one out oil it and replace and torque then proceed to the next bolt. If the was a way to keep the timing chain in place after removing the cam sprockets with chain intack from the cams I would do that. Or if anyone has taken all the blots out and replaced them with the timing chain in place with out causing head warpage I would try that. Do you know anyone you could maybe help in my decision? That it for now i await more responses
Radte2

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No whare does it say to use new head bolts

Finished with new head bolts
 

Derf, I took your advice and replaced the used head bolts with the new head bolts all went as it should. I followed the Haynes Repair Manual verbatim on how to install "new" head bolts. It was actually fairly nice in my shop/garage since I got to use my newly install overhead Infrared heater with remote control.
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