Are 4.3 Mercruiser head bolts reuseable?

[D Hayden]

I've been lurking for a few weeks, and have learned a lot from the forum. I am in the process of rebuilding my daughter's 1990 Mercruiser 4.3 Per the manual they give torque angle for the head bolts instead of regular torque setting as was used years ago on head bolts.
Does this indicate that the head bolts are the torque to yield type and are not reusable? I have been out of the loop on the engines for a few years but have built many small block and big block chevy's for auto and marine use back in the 70's and 80's.
Many thanks for all the info this forum provides.
Dwight

 

[Don S]

Re: Are 4.3 Mercruiser head bolts reuseable?

They are not torque to yield, and are reusable. They just use angle torque because it's more accurate.

 

[westpennsam]

Re: Are 4.3 Mercruiser head bolts reuseable?

Used head bolts require a measurement to see if they have stretched beyond their servicable limit. Are you the original owner??? If so your prob ok but if not there is no way of telling how many times those bolts have been torqued before. I would buy new ones. They are cheap and it beats busting one off in the block!