Proper way to re-torque?

[bigd1101]

OK.......I've read all the debate on re-torquing a head before pulling the head off as a (possible) remedy for a leaky head gasket, but of course I'm a tad confused as to the proper way to re-torque. Some suggest just re-torquing at 55 lbs without backing off the nuts 1/8th....while others say you should. My feeling and it's just a feeling as I've never done a re-torquing (I have the torque wrench) is that IF and nuts have loosened over time letting the leak occur, how will you know they are loose if you back the nut off first?


In setting the torque wrench, do I set it at zero and turn the handle to the "55" mark?


The second part of my confusion and I get the sequence part and have the diagram, but if I do decide to back off the nuts, do I do them all at once BEFORE going back over and re-torquing or do I back off a nut and then re-torque it then, move onto the next nut in the sequence and follow the same method? I really want to get this right as if this works and I avoid a head removal, well.......we all know that's the best case scenario. Thanks as always for your well appreciated help!


PS.....the two nuts on the radiator water goose-neck are very tight to the body and I doubt a socket will fit over those, only an open end wrench, so how do you torque those? There also seems to be a odd nut almost under the distributor so the same question?





Don