Long story short, the torque sequence is 15 ft lbs > 44 ft lbs > 130° rotation. I followed this but I was not confident I torqued everything down properly (my angle guide seems to be kinda wonky, or Im just using it wrong) so I measured a few bolts I definitely know I torqued down right and measured roughly 120 ft lbs. I went over all the bolts and 10/14 measured 120 ft lbs. The corner bolts were below this. 2 were pretty close, but 1 (exhaust-firewall side) probably went 50-70° before the torque wrench clicked. I decided to not even touch the 14th bolt. I figured I screwed up so I loosened the corner ones back to 44 ft lbs, rotated 130°, and that’s where we are at. I know these are TTY and the block is aluminum so I’m not sure what to do now. I just put a new head gasket on so I’m more concerned about that or the condition of the block as opposed to just maybe having to replace my new head bolts with even newer head bolts.

FYI, I did not hear any snapping and the bolts dont feel loose. They actually feel pretty tight, if they weren’t TYY I probably wouldnt even be concerned. They were a pain to get off so I’m not even sure if I overtorqued them. Also, I just bought this car (1997 Volvo 960) with a blown head gasket. This is not a customer car or whatever

 

OK - you have 2 choices - undo what you have done, purchase new head bolts/head gasket and do it again or let it be on your XX year old 960. Personally I would run with what you have (given your description of a "blown head gasket" and not knowing what that really means to you (or what was really needed!) and what really needed to be done (if the head gasket was "blown" due to overheating - much more than a simple gasket replacement was needed.)

Sorry - try it and see what happens.

 

Well to be honest I have no idea why the head gasket blew. That’s all I was told when I bought the car. It does have 215K miles, could be any number of reasons as to why the gasket blew. The block and head looked fine, the radiator did too, none of the coolant or lil galleys looked blocked or damaged. I doubt it overheated. I turned the car on before I bought it and it didnt make any funny noises, no weird vibrations

 

Why do you think it "blew" the head gasket? (that's really not a common thing in my 38 years of Volvo shop ownership for the 6 cyl engine.)

Yes the 6cyl has a history of leaking coolant from the head gasket on the exhaust side, rear of the engine. That can be fixed with coolant stop leak (I don't suggest that rig for any other other Volvo! - I recommend that for cars that old where the cost of a new retail head gasket installation is more than the car is worth!)

 

To be honest I’m not convinced the head gasket was blown. It looked fine to me. The guy that sold it to me told me he saw the coolant temp gauge was going up so he pulled over and got it towed to a mechanic. The mechanic said there was a blown head gasket. I got the valve stem seals replaced as well as got the head cleaned and machined. I’m in the process of replacing it right now

 

If your engine overheated enough to "blow" the head gasket - the head will be warped. Since the top of the head will be as warped as the bottom and the cams will be attempting to spin in bores that are no longer aligned - the proper way to fix that is to have the head straightened. How warped was/is your head on the top surface?