headgasket job problems

[E30_Packin]

Hello all, first time posting as i can't seem to find anything about this. I was doing a headgasket and everything was going smoothly up until it was time to toque the head bolts. i was using new bmw torx style head bolt and following the torque guide going 22-90-90 in the proper order. After torquing them to 22 foot-pounds i moved onto 90. The first bolt i go to tighten doesn't seem to go past 60 foot pounds. my question is, what the hell is going on? The threads look fine. I am using new head bolts and washers so i dont know what it is. Any advice is much appreciated

[Andy.B]

You don't torque it to 90 ft/lbs. You tighten all bolts to 22 ft/lbs, then rotate each one 90 degrees tighter, then another 90 degrees.

If you've gone past that, or don't know what you did, I would seriously consider a new head gasket and bolts, and try again, because it's cheaper to be cautious now then destroy the threads in the block, crack the head, or find out you ruined the gasket by over tightening one bolt.

[E30_Packin]

You don't torque it to 90 ft/lbs. You tighten all bolts to 22 ft/lbs, then rotate each one 90 degrees tighter, then another 90 degrees.
.

Well Fuck....

[Andy.B]

Sorry man. We've all made mistakes when wrenching. I once replaced a transmission on a range rover, and didn't clock the flywheel correctly on the crankshaft. Then I couldn't figure out why it wouldn't start. That was an extra 10+ hours of work I didn't get paid for, and man did I feel like an idiot.

[E30_Packin]

Yikes, that's awful. Well I guess I'll get some new head bolts and gasket. Thanks for clearing that up.

[e30onBBSs]

You don't torque it to 90 ft/lbs. You tighten all bolts to 22 ft/lbs, then rotate each one 90 degrees tighter, then another 90 degrees.

If you've gone past that, or don't know what you did, I would seriously consider a new head gasket and bolts, and try again, because it's cheaper to be cautious now then destroy the threads in the block, crack the head, or find out you ruined the gasket by over tightening one bolt.

+1, this is probably a common mistake? Just learned about it in school

[whodwho]

I wouldn't change the gasket, just change the bolts out one a time torque to the 22lbs and then proceed to the next torque steps in proper sequence.

You should make sure there are no fluids in the bolt holes by blowing them out before inserting new bolts.

[SilverShadowH27]

Oil the bolts to help with torque and 90 degrees turn!

[jeffnhiscars]

You also want to put some oil on the face of the washer where they contact the head. This prevents friction from effecting your torque readings.

[mtnbimmer]

I wouldn't change the gasket, just change the bolts out one a time torque to the 22lbs and then proceed to the next torque steps in proper sequence.

Why wouldn't you? The original bolts have been overtorqued which means the head gasket has likely been compressed too much. Seems like cheap insurance to change it now versus having to completely tear down the engine later.

[spdracrm3]

torque to yield bolts will NOT overtorque hence the name....they just keep stretching at yield point till they fracture

gasket will be fine