New head bolts needed?

[lleroyb]

I am helping a friend of my daughter with a valve job. We removed the head and he is having a shop rebuild it. The Chiltons does not say to replace the head bolts but the shop does. Of course we want to do whatever is right. So...do we need new head bolts?

It is a 4AFE motor. 1.6

Thanks,
Lou

[freakinbox]

I would recommend it, I think my car's having issues because I didn't replace them when did my headgasket.

[AVANT]

I would recommend it. You can ebay headbolts for much cheaper than the dealer. It's not worth having to open her up again and retorque everything because you didn't replace $20-30 bucks of headbolts.

[Flashmn]

Well a basic 1st gen 4A-FE DOES NOT HAVE stretching bolts. I've used mine for like 3-4times and no problems. Its how you torque it that matters. Non stretching bolts are never torqued with a degree plate.

[lleroyb]

It is a 1990 year model. Is that first generation?

Lou

[wheredoesthisgo]

I bought new bolts for 30$ on the internet and did not have to reuse them 3 or 4 times like flashmn. I did my top end once, right. Oh yeah the machine shop here pressure tested the head when i took it off and said all i needed was a surfase job. He said the oil scraper rings in the block fail when you do a complete valve job on these when they are high mileage. Make sure you change the water pump, timing belt and tensioner while your in there. 4AFE 135,000 mile with a new head gasket.
Jim

[Flashmn]

I didnt _have_ to use re-use them, I just did. Theres nothing wrong about it if the bolts are within spec.

[wheredoesthisgo]

Your right flashmn, I apologise for being an idiot. You are here to help folks and I am being a wiseass. The repair manual says to measure the stretch.