Can install Timing Belt Prior to Torqing Head?

[mccor023]

Even though I don't really believe tension from the timing belt should be so tight as to torque down the head. I do have enough doubt that I do not want to find out. Even though my rebel side wants to prove I can carry out my plan I haven't spent the last few weeks rebuilding my head only for it to keep leaking.

[goldenbb]

I'm so glad I read this--I was thinking the same thing--get the belt positioned, then do the final torque on the head bolts, but I won't do that now. My problem is, I did the seals behind the crank bolt and I have to torque that bitch to 300'lbs and I wanted to get the timing belt over that stupid bottom pulley and get everything back to TDC and wanted to install the belt right then instead of fiddling with the belt later once the crank bolt is back on. Anyways, I had the same damn idea.

[jlevie]

Yes you can do this. In fact, I always recommend only bringing new head bolts up to the 22ft-lb initial torque until everything has been reassembled (intake, exhaust, timing belt etc.). The after double checking everything do the final angle torques on the head bolts. That way, if you discover that the head has to come back off for some reason you can reuse the gasket and head bolts.

So use the old bolts and run them up to 22ft-lb. When the new bolts come in, replace them one at a time, taking each new bolt to 22ft-lb.