3.0 Head Bolt Help

[eloyc]

I'm very sorry in advance, I really should've came here first. So here is my story, I have a 1994 3.0 Ford Ranger XLT 2wd. It has its quirks but overall has been very good to me, I would like to keep it until im dead so I decided to start working on it down to the headgasket. This is where I think I goofed up. It has 4.5in bolts and I think I used the wrong torque sequence and I keep getting really paranoid about it. The sequence I used was torque to 37ft lb back off a full turn, retorque to 22ft lb then rotate 90° and another 90° After doing this the headbolts are tight and feel good, not sure how to explain that properly but they went in well with that sequence. But since digging even deeper it seems it could be wrong and it's really freaking me out. So I'm just looking for help or advice on if this is okay. If you need any other information to help me please just let me know thank you.

 

[Curious Hound]

Hopefully, someone will chime in with the proper torque procedure for that. A Haynes or Chiltons manual would give you the answer. But, soome other things that matter are;
What kind/ brand of bolts did you use? Some are "torque to yield". These may have a different procedure and should not be re-used. Did you use new bolts? And the pattern makes a difference. I believe it is most common to start near the middle of the head and work out toward the ends in a criss-cross pattern.

 

[eloyc]

Hopefully, someone will chime in with the proper torque procedure for that. A Haynes or Chiltons manual would give you the answer. But, soome other things that matter are;
What kind/ brand of bolts did you use? Some are "torque to yield". These may have a different procedure and should not be re-used. Did you use new bolts? And the pattern makes a difference. I believe it is most common to start near the middle of the head and work out toward the ends in a criss-cross pattern.

I did use new bolts from rock auto, Fel pro brand and did use an outward star pattern

 

[RobWigglezz]

As long as the threaded holes were clean and no head bolts bottomed out, you should be fine. It's not like it's making 500hp. For piece of mind you could start with a low torque setting and keep going up to see where the bolts are at.

 

[eloyc]

As long as the threaded holes were clean and no head bolts bottomed out, you should be fine. It's not like it's making 500hp. For piece of mind you could start with a low torque setting and keep going up to see where the bolts are at.

It's really weird. I called multiple ford dealerships and mechanics near me and none of them could give me an answer for torque spec or they just said they didn't have any info because the vehicle was too old. For the two sequences I did find, it looks like they both end up at about the same end spec, 70ish ft lb. I checked my bolts at they were all about 73ish ft lb so I gave them a snug to 75ft lb in sequence and will leave it there.

 

[pjtoledo]

what did the instructions that came with the new bolts say?
was torque increasing, or starting to level off or decrease?

since replacing the bolts means also replacing the head gaskets I would drive it.

EDIT:
'ya slipped the last one in while I was typing.
with the new info I think you're good to go.

 

[eloyc]

what did the instructions that came with the new bolts say?
was torque increasing, or starting to level off or decrease?

since replacing the bolts means also replacing the head gaskets I would drive it.

EDIT:
'ya slipped the last one in while I was typing.
with the new info I think you're good to go.

Unfortunately the bolts didn't have any instructions. This has been one heck of a time figuring this out

 

[pjtoledo]

if you post the part number we can usually find the specs someplace. at this point it's mostly curiosity and help for the next guy.

EDIT: per a 1995 factory manual your final torque of 75 is about 10% over factory specs, I would not worry about it.

procedures have been changed since that book was printed so it really depends on the actual bolts.

 

[eloyc]

if you post the part number we can usually find the specs someplace. at this point it's mostly curiosity and help for the next guy.

EDIT: per a 1995 factory manual your final torque of 75 is about 10% over factory specs, I would not worry about it.

procedures have been changed since that book was printed so it really depends on the actual bolts.

Fel Pro Headbolts Part # ES72136