Will loosen a head bolt warp 440 cast iron heads?

[Giveitawack]

My spark plug wires are a mess. Never installed the brackets to hold them in place.
The plan is to loosen one bolt, torque it down loosen another and so on.
If I loosen the head bolts and put the brackets in, will that warp the heads or cause any other damage?
440 stock cast iron heads.

[Super Blue 72]

Hi Giveitawack,

I'm a little confused.  Are you installing these brackets on the valve cover bolts?  The head bolts don't need to be touched.  Just trying to clarify the question at hand.  If these are the valvecover bolts, yes, just unloosen them then tightenthem up once the bracket is put in place.

[Giveitawack]

No, it is the head bolts.
I think it is at least 2 bolts on each head that the brackets attaches to.
There are also heat shields for some of the plugs.
If I loosen one head bolt, do I cause some tension in the head? Or do I need to remove the head, new head gasket and then torque it in the usual pattern?

[Super Blue 72]

No, it is the head bolts.
I think it is at least 2 bolts on each head that the brackets attaches to.
There are also heat shields for some of the plugs.
If I loosen one head bolt, do I cause some tension in the head? Or do I need to remove the head, new head gasket and then torque it in the usual pattern?

OK. I'm lost.  I speak from small block experience, sorry!  I tried to take a peek at some 440 pics and see there are brackets that attach to the head near the exhaust manifolds but cannot see a real good pic of the brackets and attachment points.

Perhaps someone else will chime in that is more familiar with the 440 engine.  Perhaps also changing your title to "needing help with spark plug brackets" might be better than "warp speed" so people will chime in to help.   

[mopar12372]

chances are you will not mess anything up if you retorque the bolts  you replace , i wouldnt do it for wires .

[Giveitawack]

Thanks for your replies Super Blue 72
Listened to your advise about the title.

You are right mopar12372
Not worth the gamble. I will wait with the brackets to the next time the heads comes off.

[UKcuda]

Attaching plug wire clips with head bolts seems a very dubious practice anyway.  Can't you get some clips that fix to something else?  A lot of modern mopars have the plastic ones that push over extended cover bolts there should be something suitable in the junk yard.

[Moparal]

There were spark plug heat shields installed on the head bolts. Is that what your talking about?  Protected the rubber tube shields from burning. 

[Giveitawack]

Both  brackets to hold the wires in place and heat shields to protect the rubber boots from burning.
http://www.jimsautoparts.com/engine_ignition_parts.htm

[Aussie Challenger]

Taking one bolt out at a time shouldn't warp the head especially if the motor is cold. When bolt is out make sure that you clean up the thread before refitting and re torquing, make sure you put a little lube on the thread and under the head of the bolt also.

[Cooter]

Just FYI here, but Headgaskets don't really like to have the head bolts loosened and retorqued...Good way to have a Head gasket leak...

[67vertman]

   Have you thought about going after market?


http://www.summitracing.com/parts/RNM-1101P/?rtype=10

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MOR-72133/

[Strawdawg]

  Have you thought about going after market?


http://www.summitracing.com/parts/RNM-1101P/?rtype=10

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MOR-72133/

the first worked well for me

[Chryco Psycho]

I would remove one bolt at a time with the engine cold you should be fine

[spamtank]

Hey Giveitawack,

 

I'm in the same boat you were in. 

Did you end up installing the ignition wire brackets, or did you go with aftermarket parts that didn't touch the head bolts?

If you did mess with the head bolts, did you have any problems with your head gaskets?