My top water hose blew off the raditor while driving on the interstate. I hate That! It ran hot and blowed the head gasket at the very least. It was bubbleing the water in resovior. I have not torn the motor down. Are the head bolts the type that stretch and have to be replaced?

I have replaced a few isuzu head gaskets in my time, and I have never had to replace my head bolts. I have inspected them prior to re-installment. Your biggest concerns isn't the head gasket, it's cracking the head. The cracks are pretty easy to find for most engine rebuild shops. When I've blown a head gasket, I simply take the head off myself, and then take it in to have it inspected. Sometimes it can be repaired, and other times it's just easier to get a rebuilt/pre-loaded head.

Unlike Keith's Isuzu 2.6 engine, your GM/Saturn 2.2 does appear to use TTY bolts. It seems that is what the Saturn guys say about it.

I believe that a) your torque spec includes a torque value, followed by tightening to a specific angle (i.e. stages of 90*) and b) if you look at your head bolts, they have a tapered, or thinner shaft between the heads and the threads.

Hopefully Jerry will chime in with the final word.

Good luck,
Michael

The 2.2 is actually a Holden-designed engine (from Australia).

My suggestion is for you to take the head off yourself, as long as you know how, or have the resources/connections to aquire that information. Since your going to have to have the head inspected for cracks or warping anyways, just take the head bolts with you. You can have the same inspection shop look at those head bolts, while they inspect your head.

Once you get the damage report on your 2.2 head, you can decide if it's worth fixing, or just simply replacing. I used a shop in Portland, OR called Aluminum Head Rebuilders. They were able to pre-load the replacement head with valves, springs, and etc.. This cut down on my rebuild time, which was really nice.

I'm sure there is a similar shop in your area, but if not the above mentioned store does have a website.
http://www.aluminumheads.com/

SORRY GUYS , DIDNT CATCH THIS POST UN TILL LATE,, BUT JIM IS CORRECT,THAT 2.2 IS A KANKAROO ENG ENG, AND A AGRAVATING ONE AT THAT,, THE HEAD BOLTS ARE IN FACT REUSABLE ON THAT ENG , HOWEVER WHEN YOU GO TO PUT THE HEAD BACK ON, THE EX CAM MUST BE REMOVED TO GET THE HEAD OFF AND BACK ON, HEAD BOLTS ARE TO BE TORQUEDIN THIS MANNER TO KEEP THE HEAD FROM BOWING OR IT WILL LEAK, FIRST TORQUE IS THE SAME AS ENY ENG BASICALLY START IN THE VERY CENTER OF THE ENG AND WORK IN A CIRCLE FIRST TORQUE IS 18 FT LB
NEXT STEP IS 90 DEGREE TURN
NEXT THIRD TURN 90 DEGREE
NEXT FOURTH TURN 90 DEGREE AGAIN
OBVIOUSLY THIS TAKE A GOOD BIT OF TIME BUT IT IS NEEDED, 4 COMPLETE SETUP,S
OH BTHW , ALL THE ISUZU V6 ENG FROM 92 THRU THE LAST PRODUCTION DATE ALL HAD A ONE USE HEAD BOLT OR THEY WILL BREAK, BELIEVE ME ON THAT ONE , IF THEY DONT BREAK GETTING THEM OUT THE 2.6 CAN BE USED OVER AND OVER JERRY OH ONE MORE THING ON THAT 2.2 TORQUE THE CAM HOLDER BOLT TO A MAX OF 6 FT LBS OR YOU MAY BIND THE CAM UP