"Head bolts" to replace or not?

[dieseldoc]

I am working on a 94' DI 7.3. It has a miss when cold. I finally narrowed it down to a leaking intake valve on #2. Going to removed the heads and do a valve job and reseal the engine. I have been told you need to replace the head bolts, and also told if they look good you can use them over. Just wondering what you guys think about replacing them?

[DwayneGorniak]

7.3L engines have reusable head bolts. Installation

 

Install head gasket over dowel sleeves and onto the cylinder head surface.

 

Install the cylinder head. Take care to not damage the head gasket.

 

CAUTION: Do not use too much engine oil on the threads or damage to the threads and poor sealing may result. Do not use anti-seize compound, grease or any other lubricants other than engine oil on the cylinder head bolt threads. They will affect the true torque value reading of the bolts.

 

Lightly lubricate the cylinder head retaining bolt threads and flanges with clean engine oil.

 

Install the cylinder head retaining bolts in sequence and tighten to the specified torque in three steps. Refer to the following illustration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remove the Rotunda Cylinder Head Lifting Bracket 014-00932 or equivalent.

 

Install the four inboard fuel injector hold-down bolts and tighten shoulder bolts to 12 Nm (120 lb-in).

 

CAUTION: Failure to follow the next step of this procedure could result in bent valves, causing severe engine damage.

 

Rotate the engine until the mark on the crankshaft vibration damper (6316) is at 11 o'clock to prevent valve damage when installing the rocker arm.

 

Install the rocker arms and push rods (copper end up). Tighten the rocker arm bolts (6A527) to 27 Nm (20 lb-ft).

 

Install the fuel injectors. Lubricate the injector O-rings with clean engine oil. Carefully push injectors square into bore using hand pressure only to seat the injector O-rings. Position open end of Injector Replacer T94T-9000-AH2 between fuel injector body and fuel injector hold-down plate, while positioning opposite end of tool over edge of cylinder head. Align hole in tool with threaded hole in cylinder head and install bolt from tool kit. Tighten bolt to fully seat fuel injector in bore, then remove bolt and tool.

 

 

 

Sorry the illustration did not come through, but you torque them in sequence to 65ftlb, then 85ftlb, then final step to 105 ftlb.

[Keith Browning]

[Brad Clayton]

Pay close attention when torquing these bolts if your torque wrench is hitting it's number in around the same spot during your tightening sequence but all of a sudden one bolt seems to be taking a lot more turns and feels just as tight before your wrench has indicated the proper torque then stop 'cause that bolt is most likely gonna snap on you. Much easier to replace a problem bolt or at least a questionable one while whole than it is when snapped off in block.

[dieseldoc]

Thanks for the help guys. I appreciate it.