HEAD BOLTS

[oldskoolracer]

on a basic rerbuild on a B16.


would it be possible to reuse the the head bolts? on all the cars i've worked on before i just replaced them but i'm just trying to make sure.


suggestions

[HONDA GHANDI]

You can use them 3-4 times before they are too stretched to be reused.

[oldskoolracer]

HOW bout headgaskets? LOL.

[Weston-work]

According to David, you can re-use headgaskets... but according to his engine, it tends to blow the gasket in about 5 different places when you do that. :rofl:

[tylerdurdon]

ive reused my headbolts on d series all the time. if it is a steel head gasket, which it should be on the b16, i have taken the rivet thing out of it that holds the 3 layers together and then stuck them in the oven, after i cleaned it off real good, and heat it up so the metal expandes. then take each layer and spray with copper gasket spray stuff. then put it all together. this was a desperate move and it worked so ????

[HONDA GHANDI]

So you spent an hour or more doing that when it takes less than half the time to go get a new one. Not to mention a used one may or may not hold together so its quite possible that it may go bad causing you to do the job over again, or worse yet damage some engine parts. If that happens you are worse off than before only now your wallet is empty and you have spent twice as much time doing the job. No thanks, it worth the $50 to me for the peice of mind alone.

[Conrad]

So you spent an hour or more doing that when it takes less than half the time to go get a new one. Not to mention a used one may or may not hold together so its quite possible that it may go bad causing you to do the job over again, or worse yet damage some engine parts. If that happens you are worse off than before only now your wallet is empty and you have spent twice as much time doing the job. No thanks, it worth the $50 to me for the peice of mind alone.

:werd:

[dsmchic0806]

NEVER REUSE HEAD BOLTS!!!! EVER

[dsmchic0806]

ive reused my headbolts on d series all the time. if it is a steel head gasket, which it should be on the b16, i have taken the rivet thing out of it that holds the 3 layers together and then stuck them in the oven, after i cleaned it off real good, and heat it up so the metal expandes. then take each layer and spray with copper gasket spray stuff. then put it all together. this was a desperate move and it worked so ????



you do this all the time? so obviously it doesnt work bc you constintly redo it

[HONDA GHANDI]

NEVER REUSE HEAD BOLTS!!!! EVER


BZZZZT! Wrong. It can be done, I have proved it over and over. Just replacing parts for the sake of replacing them is wrong. You need to understand the reason they need to be replaced and know the limits. I can tell you with one simple tool if a head bolt should be replaced or if it is still good. They are not like crush washers, one time use only. Even the factory manual gives you a reasonable stretch limit.