Just did this same thread last week. Got some advice not to change and then
to change. I was going to blow off changing them, and then the job was
posponed for a week because of weather. So I decided to go ahead and order
them.... $4.16 for the set from Bus Boys. I figure "why take that chance
after all this work for that amount?". Besides the Bentley says to 'always
replace'.

I called Tuesday and asked them to please get it to me before the weekend.
Wenesday was a holiday. The packaged arrived Friday.

The engine went back in today despite me having a cold and the miserable
rainy weather we're having here in Houston...

----------------------
Bill Knight wrote:

> Just started assembling my 2.1 liter engine this weekend and immediately
> ran into a problem.  I've never done a 2.1 before (several 1.9's though)
> and find the Bentley documentation insufficient regarding the reuse of
> connecting rod bolts.  The 2.1 uses a stretch bolt, where 22 ft lbs is
> applied, then another half turn of the nut is performed. However, this
> doesn't work when reusing a bolt.  Does this imply that these bolts must
> always be replaced, or is there a torque reading that should be used
> when the bolts have already been stretched.  I suspect that I should
> replace the bolts, but I'll bet they are expensive.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Thanks,
> Bill Knight
> Raleigh, NC
> '84 Westfalia Wolfsburg, soon to be 2.1 powered.