head gaskit and bolts

[julesgemini]

I have just had a cylinder head rebuilt on a renault master van. It's recommended that the bolts and gaskit be replaced can I get away with using the same gaskit and bolts ? neither of which seem to be damaged. A friend of mine who has repaired classic cars said he used the same head gaskit and bolts and it was fine.

Thanks

[mr rusty]

Not on a modern motor.......on old cars the head is normally held down by nuts on studs, which you can obviously reuse, on a modern engine it's by stretch bots, which are one shot only because they stretch when torqued down.........and for the sake of a few quid I have never reused a head gasket-old car or new: this is because they compress when the head is tightened down, again, single use only!!

You may get away with it on an Austin 7 or a ford 10, but most definately NOT on a Renault Master- if you try to reuse the bolts or gasket you'll be doing the job again....next week......

[bigboots]

Drat that mr rusty beat me to it ha ha

[julesgemini]

thanks and is it the same for the big end bolts too As they need to be torqued ?

[bigboots]

You can usually re use big end and main bearing bolts as these are not normally "stretch" bolts

[julesgemini]

thanks it's all quite new to me so I'm being very careful not to make any mistakes as I have put alot of time and money into this now. Looking back maybe I should have got a new engine but at least I have learnt somthing along the way. Got the head back today it looks like he's done a good job on it reseated a new valve and replaced the damaged pre-combustion cham. I have to put the new piston in tomorrow as it was damaged too. I have concerns about the bore though although it looks ok how can I tell ? A friend of mine said it looks undamaged and there doesnt seem to be any score marks in it or anything.

[mr rusty]

If it looks OK without any gouges or scratches then it generally is OK, but the only way you can properly check is by measurement, either with a micrometer, or the traditional way by using a new piston ring and measuring the closing gap with a feeler gauge...you'd need to know what the tolerances should be, however, which you will need a service manual for........but I would say if it looks OK then it is OK and fit the new piston.

You should also hone the bore if you're putting in a new piston and rings-you can do this at home using a glazebuster in a drill, but failing that you can use a very fine grade wet'n'dry paper with oil rather than water.

This is the proper tool:http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Spare-Set-Of-Coar se-Stones-120-56250-Draper-YCH51-177;jsessioni d=ac112b791f4303e944ed39264c8daeb7abd6b08890f3 .e3eTaxeKbh0Te34Pa38Ta38LaN10?sc=9&category=15 8 which you can get in most good spares places-it's purpose is to roughen up the bore so the new rings can bed in properly.

You can get away without honing, but if you've got this far it'd be nice to finish the job properly!!

[julesgemini]

ok put the new piston in had the head rebuilt got a machanic to come out and do the cam belt and timing but he left as it wouldnt start due to a fuel problem I sorted that it was simply air in it. I started it up and it sounded like it was only firing on 3 cylinders it was also still smoking loads ! I called the machanic he said its possible that it could be a tooth out and that the belt wasnt tight he thinks its the wrong belt even though I was told it was the right one there are 2 types for the same model. would it smoke if the timing was out ? and I mean alot of white smoke ? or is the bore warped or somthing ?