mk2 head bolt replacement

[fillmore]

i have a 89 diesel golf non-turbo and i have to replace and retouqe my head bolts. ive got my new bolts and i know that i need a Lisle Triple Square driver but i need to know whats envolved in replacing the bolts before i get too far into it. my valve cover need to come off but what else, do i need to remove my camshaft aswell?
thanks guys,
myles

[racer_x]

Answered at http://vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=1151.

Please, try to post the question in one place. If you don't get an answer there, maybe post links to it in other places, but keep all the discussion in one place. It's less confusing for everyone.

[fillmore]

sorry if im confusing people  i didnt realize that there was a whole form deticated to IDI. ill stop jumping around

[chrissev]

i have a 89 diesel golf non-turbo and i have to replace and retouqe my head bolts. ive got my new bolts and i know that i need a Lisle Triple Square driver but i need to know whats envolved in replacing the bolts before i get too far into it. my valve cover need to come off but what else, do i need to remove my camshaft aswell?
thanks guys,
myles

you don't need to remove the camshaft, but if you are taking out the head bolts, there is a pretty good chance, even if you take them out one by one, that you will disturb the head gasket.  To be safe, you should take the head completely off and replace the gasket.

[QuickTD]

I believe the torquing procedure assumes you are using a new head gasket. I would bet that you would break a couple of the bolts if the gasket didn't crush a bit...

[dieselweasel]

Why would you replace the bolts in the first place if not removing the head?