2.3L ('83-'97) Head bolt torque -- how bad did I screw up?

[pentode]

Great info, well documented. I think we're all on the same page here - reusing TTY bolts that have stretched is a big risk. Reusing TTY bolts that haven't really been stressed is likely less of a risk. Pending verification by any metallurgists.
Check back in in 100k miles and let us know how it went.

 

[SenseAmidMadness]

In retrospect -- I should've used my beam torque wrench to check exactly how much force it takes to get the bolts to 90 degrees. Another d'oh! It's a heck of a lot more than 90 foot pounds. Downright uncomfortable even on the end of a 28 inch breaker bar leaning over the engine bay, especially after the 9th time in a row. If it's a linear ramp-up equal to the one between 50 foot pounds and 90 foot pounds, it's somewhere in the neighborhood of 125 foot-pounds. But it's probably not linear due to the bolts yielding.

I'm sure some engineer could give us a theoretical calculation. Just going by thread pitch the 90 degree rotation would attempt to force the threads an additional 0.375mm (or .0147") into the block...

Above my pay grade either way. I'm a semi-professional mechanic and only know just enough to be dangerous.