Cam Housing torqued too tight, do I need new gaskets?

[kmoses]

When I bolted on a rebuilt 1800cc head to my 2L block, I used the wrong torque value for my cam housing bolts (32 ft/lbs.) I have never started the engine. Can I back off the bolts and torque to the correct value without replacing the cam housing gaskets or will they leak like the Exxon Valdez without installing new gaskets? Also, what is the correct torque value 18, 14 or 22 ft/lbs. I have seen all these values listed?

[RRoller123]

14 "Cylinder Head Extensions"

[kmoses]

I saw that chart but was looking for Cam Box or Cam Tower never thought they would be called "Head Extensions".
Thanks, now will the gaskets leak or not after being compressed at the wrong torque for 6 months?

[engineerted]

I find it hard to believe that you were possible to torque these bolts to 34 ft-lbs? Are you positive you did not mistake Nm for ft-lbs? What type of torque wrench did you use? Beam or clicker style. I have always use 22 ft-lbs for these 8.8grade bolts, and they will pull the thread out of the head as you get close to 30 ft-lbs.

No need for a new gasket if you just remove and re-torque one bolt at a time. I would pull each bolt out completely and inspect for necking of the bolt thread and for any aluminum contamination left on the threads.

[kmoses]

I'm sure it was 32 ft/lbs. I had a paper note tucked in my manual that reads cam box 32 ft and I have no idea where that value was sourced from. The torque wrench is a Snap-On clicker type that I have had for years and I never use Nm. I only caught this when I had to remove the lifting bracket on the front intake so I could make a dipstick mount that would clear the breather assembly. When I was breaking the bolts loose, I remember thinking "damn these bolts are tight". I did not have my shop manual with me so I looked up the torque value on line and was shocked to see 14 ft/lbs. as a low and 22 ft/lbs. listed somewhere else. When I arrived home and found my note in the shop manual I knew I had screwed up. I am going to check the bolts, torque it to spec. and see what happens.