Putting the head back on my 80 this weekend - Got a question about head bolts. (1 Viewer)

[RiverCityDave]

As I was prepping parts and tools, I started thinking about the disassembly and I remembered that meant to ask the gurus here about the head bolts. I have new bolts and washers going on, but when I pulled my head, there were no washers. Im 100% certain of this. Additionally, a second head (though not the third I ended up using) that I pulled from another engine also had no washers. I am also 100% certain of this.

Has anyone ever seen this before? Is there a reason people were doing this, or should I just chalk it up to PO and/or mechanic malfeasance?

Again, to be clear, before anyone piles on me, I am replacing the head bolts and washers, I’m just curious why two of three heads I pulled during the repair process were missing washers.

Thoughts?

 

[mudgudgeon]

Were the washers stuck in place and missed?

Seems odd that more than one mechanic would change the head /gasket and lose track of washers and not reinstall them.

 

[inkpot]

IF the heads had been off before, maybe someone thought it wise to leave out the washers in order to engage some new, unused thread, although it would be only a couple of turns?

 

[RiverCityDave]

IF the heads had been off before, maybe someone thought it wise to leave out the washers in order to engage some new, unused thread, although it would be only a couple of turns?

This is kind of the line of thinking I was following, I’d just never heard of anyone doing it. Its hard (but not impossible) to believe two heads from wholly different trucks were just coincidence.

 

[Malleus]

I'd chalk it up to poor workmanship/not knowing a thing about the 1FZ-FE engine. If you find out who worked on those engines, avoid them like the plague.

 

[Fj80oregon]

Pictures or it never happened. This is hard to believe two separate heads had been pulled and put back without washers. Not saying I don’t believe you just saying it’s hard to wrap my head around.

 

[jjdeneen918]

Best advise to give is to clean the block threads prior to installing the head bolts.

I used an ARP thread cleaning tap prior to install.

It would be difficult to set final bolt torque if you’re fighting grime & debris in the threads.

 

[LXDOC]

Agree with Malleus. Poor workmanship. Wonder what else?

 

[RiverCityDave]

Agree with Malleus. Poor workmanship. Wonder what else?

Yeah, I haven't found anything that jumps out at me, but you can bet I'm looking a LOT closer now.