Cleaned up the head bolt threads in the block and installed the torque plate today. I threaded the studs in the same depth as OEM head bolts. The bores were round before I torqued the studs. They pulled to .003, maybe even .004 inch oversize with studs torqued to about 100 lb-ft. I was expecting .001-.002, not .003-.004. I'll never hone a block without a torque plate again.
Have to think about this a bit because my bores are already to size and I sure don't want to open them up another .004. Maybe back off the torque to 80 lb-ft, then run the hone in to knock off the high spots rather than all the way round. I feel more comfortable with .001-.002 oversize at the top of the bore.
One solution is to bore another block and use the torque plate this time.
