first off its a b18b1, i took the head off to do a head gasket so i took the head to get checked today and im supposed to get it back about wensday next week. I was talking to a mechanic who i dont dont know if i trust because he just works at an auto body shop out back and has nothing to do with the shop just doenst have a place of his own even but he was saying that after changing the head to never reuse the head bolts, i have never heard of this, anyone else? i dont want to have to pay for new ones from a dealer and then find out these ones are find which they look to be. thanks

 

Some vehicles use what is called "stretch head bolts", they get bigger at the bottom when thay are torqued down. Honda does not use these kind of head bolts and you CAN reuse your old head bolts

 

thanks for the info, saved me some money

 

Yes - those are also called 'Torque To Yield,' or TTY. Meaning that they have been engineered to stretch once they exceed the intended torsion value after installation, rather than breaking or holding fast for other potential engine damage during an over-pressure situation. TTY head bolts can prevent cracked heads, cracked blocks, bent and.or broken valves (resulting in more serious damage), etc. A nice feature for potential engine longevity, but a nightmare for anybody trying to build up their engines using boost and higher compression techniques.

Against what I read on the internet, I re-used the head bolts from my '95 VX while repairing a blown head gasket/warped head. Since the bolts themselves (I looked up the specs both on the internet as well as at the parts stores - and could find no evidence of TTY) are not TTY, I decided to give them a shot and re-use them. So far, so good.

 

ive been told that they can be re-used several times but then need replacing. they are not too expencive if you can afford it i would replace them for 'peace of mind'

 

i was told the same thing. i bought new bolts and unfortunatly no part stores carry them u gotta go strait to honda. 10 bucks per bolt and they only have strech bolts. so if your stock head bolts ever go bad ur stuck with the strechbolts

 

i must have been lucky i got mine straight off the shelf. you can some times find arp head bolts on ebay if you can wait for the delivery but make sure they are torqued in the right sequence and the right torque setting or you will have problems these are normally found in the haynes manual but im sure the guys on here will tell you if you havent got a manual.

 

The proper torque and sequence can be found: http://www.honda-civiconline.com

 

FWIW, I did a headgasket on my 93 dx with the D15B7 almost two years and 40,000 miles ago... Re-used the head bolts, no problems. As long as you don't over tourqe them you should be fine. And yeah like mentioned they must be removed and put in in a specific order, or the gasket will not seat correctly, and you can actually warp the head as well... You probably knew that already though.