Cracked Head(need help)

[atvracer]

I have a 1993 festiva and have a cracked head near the spark plug beside the distributer cap. I have a spare head for my stock motor and just wondering if i need to replace the head bolts or if there is anything special to watch out for.

Thanks,
atvracer

[hawkdoc60]

I was always told that whenever you remove head bolts, you should replace them because they stretch and fatigue from the torque and pressure applied. However, I could have been misinformed, but I have always lived by that rule.

BTW I live 20 miles from you, so if you need help, I could possibly catch up with you.

[jglutz]

Yeah...the timing belt marks....specifically the cam shaft can be tricky.

Befor you losen the tensioner and remove the belt:
1) pull all the plugs
2) Put the ATX/MTX in neutral
3) turn the crank or cam shaft sprocket to TDC.
4) With a paint marker or like...trace lines from the belt onto the sprockets...top and bottom...cam and crank.

If the car was properly timmed before the removal...and the belt is re-installed with the marks all in the same place....no need to worry about the mechanical timing.

If you are replacing the belt...just transcribe the lines from the old belt to the new belt.

Every time I have remembered to do this...belts or chains...it has worked flawlessly.

[ejp2fast]

many head bolts are torque to yeild, but not festiva's. you can use the old head bolts no problem unless they were overtorqued in the past. inspect them closely when you remove them and see.