The paper presents modeling and calculations of multi-bolted connections at the assembly stage on an example of the engine cylinder head-block connection. The physical model of the connection was introduced as a combination of three subsystems: the set of bolts, the joined element and the contact layer between the joined element and the rigid support. The finite element method (FEM) was used for the modeling. Bolts were replaced with hybrid elements. The joined element was modeled with spatial finite elements. The Winkler model of the contact layer has been taken into consideration. The truth of the theorem has been examined, according to which non-linearity of the contact layer has a negligible impact on the final values of the bolt forces in the case of sequential preloading of the multi-bolted connection. The results of the calculations of a selected multi-bolted connection have been compared with the experimental results.