I don't know the "official" method but I did the sequence in two steps. I don't have the info in front of me because I sold the car and sent the manual with it. I think the spec was 80 lb/ft. I would torque to about 60 then start over and go to 80 in the same sequence. I'm not sure what you mean by 'loosen then tighten'. They would be loose if you had the head off. My reference is on a 38 216.

Hi Mike

Like Tiny, I don't know what you are referring to when you talk about loosening and then tightening.

At NO point during the process of torquing a head are bolts "loosened".

Torque in stages as Tiny recommends.

Some may disagree but, I never put a bolt in without at least a little oil on the threads.

Without oil, the amount of torque required just to overcome the friction in the threads can vary wildly between bolts, so the actual residual torque applying the desired stretch/preload to the bolt can vary wildly as well.

As you approach the final torque value, turn the bolt "slowly but surely" with no stoppages until the torque value is reached.

After all bolts are up to their final torque, I always go through the entire torquing pattern again using a torque just a few pounds higher.

Due to "static friction", the bolts seldom move on that final check, but it catches any that may not be quite there for some reason or another.

Hope that helps.  🙂