Can I remove, re-fit and re-torque my TU3 1.4l 8v head gasket

Hi all, so here is the confession.

Yesterday, I fitted a new head gasket to my TU3 8v engine. I was rushing the job as it was getting dark, and after torqueing each bolt up to 20nm as per the instructions in the Haynes manual, I started to do the additional 270 degrees for each bolt. That is when I lost my place in the bolt pattern!
So basically, I have a half fitted head gasket that is not fully torqued down.
My question is this:

As the crank has not been turned, and the engine has not been heated up, can I remove the bolts, following the pattern in the Haynes manual so as not to distort the head, and can I then refit the bolts and re-torque them to the proper torque settings?

My apologies for the dumb question. It will teach me not to rush a job like that again.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

PS. I was re-using the original bolts.

sabeimuppar wrote: ↑Thu Sep 16, 2021 7:56 am PS. I was re-using the original bolts.

Hi sabeimuppar

Maybe it is time to get the new bolts and use those instead.

The bolts are stretch bolts and while you can re-use them, they may not stay torqued sufficiently over the life of the head gasket.

I would take this as a near miss and just fit the right bolts.

You can get a set from GSF for less than £20, delivered, here

Thank you s much for the reply and the recommendation.

Sorry for not being too clear in the original question. What I am really concerned about is if the new head gasket can be reused.
Will it need to be replaced, or can I simply undo the bolts and retighten them again?

Sorry for the lack of clarity, and thanks again for the recommendation regarding the bolts.

sabeimuppar wrote: ↑Thu Sep 16, 2021 8:18 am Thank you s much for the reply and the recommendation.

Sorry for not being too clear in the original question. What I am really concerned about is if the new head gasket can be reused.
Will it need to be replaced, or can I simply undo the bolts and retighten them again?

Sorry for the lack of clarity, and thanks again for the recommendation regarding the bolts.

For the head gasket it self.

I would not remove one bolt and replace it to the first level of torque and repeat this in the sequence.

Then you can torque them up to the angle setting.

This way, only one bolt is removed at a time which would give you the best chance at a working head gasket.

But it is not a job you want to do again on the same engine, maybe it would be better to fit a new head gasket. I suppose it would depend on how many miles/KMs you expect from the engine. If its just to get you back on the road until something else comes along, then just torque then up as I suggested above.

If you expect to get 100 of thousands of miles from the engine, maybe it would be better to replace the head gasket for peace of mind.

Many thanks again for your kind assistance much appreciated

Hi all, just thought I'd update the post.
I decided in the end to remove the head to inspect the new gasket, carefully following the loosening sequence as outlined in the Haynes manual.
The gasket seemed fine, so I re-installed it after first measuring the stretch bolts and finding that they hadn't stretched at all. I greased up the bolts on the threads and the underside of the head of each bolt. Then following the sequence for tightening them as outlined in the Haynes manual, I did then all to 20NM, but then instead of tightening them again to 240 degrees, I just did 180 degrees. I felt like they would snap if I did them any tighter, and I wasn't 100% sure that my torque wrench was accurate as it was a £20 eBay job from last year. I did my brother's Citroen Berlingo cylinder head gasket last year and did the same thing Initial torque to20NM then just 180 degree angle. His Berlingo has run fine since then, so I think it must be somewhere near the mark.
Thank you again for taking the time to respond to my initial question, much appreciated