head bolt torque

Even though I worked my way through college teaching automotive engine basics at a night school and working part time in a garage plus several years working for my father inlaw part time when he first opened his own garage I am coming from a home hobbiest standpoint and not from the pressures of flat rate. So I would agree 100% that to the professional mechanic an extra 15 minutes spent doing multiple steps will cost money.

In regards to to clamping force I am refering to the the force the bolts are applying to hold the head to the block. The water jackets and shape and configuration of the head and block will certainly have a varying impact on the strain in the metal but if the thickenss of the block and head decks are sufficient then there will be very little variation in the clamping force.

The key is the total force applied by the bolts holding the head to the block being greater than the force due to temperature variations and cylinder pressure trying to force them apart.