SWEET98SS

iTrader: (8)

I am in the process of rebuilding my 99 LS1 and didnt see any reccomendations on head bolts.

Do you guys reuse your stock head bolts, buy new stock head bolts or by ARP studs? Are the stock bolts torque to yield?

Intimidator02SS

Replace them. Stock or ARP is your choice. ARP also has bolts to give you an intermediate option as well.

Redfire 03

No! As said above, replace them.

j99fbody

iTrader: (1)

replace them, stock head bolts are stretch bolts and cannot be reused

gtotoocool1

iTrader: (6)

stock bolts are torque to yield,one time use only.i just bought new stock bolts for my H/C.

baxsom

iTrader: (6)

seriously? it's all over this forum plus every other LS1 forum and how to sites about stock head bolts not to mention the service manual. make sure you read up a lot on prepping the block for headbolts. one drop of water in a bolt hole will crack your block when you torque the bolt down.

if you havent seen it yet, www.ls1howto.com has a step by step guide.

wildcamaro

iTrader: (15)

Don't reuse them! New GM head bolts are like 45-50 bucks well spent! Although arp head bolts are easier to torque since they don't need to be stretched using torque angle gauge...

garygnu

go to TSP ,the stock GM head bolts are inexpensive.

Carter01

iTrader: (11)

Lot's of good info here. As stated, stock bolts are "torque to yield" and cannot be reused. Personally i would upgrade to ARP...

SWEET98SS

iTrader: (8)

Thanks for all the replies, guess Ill check pricing and see which one Im going to go with.

Matt0matic

And keep buying non-reusable bolts... so next time you need to check out a lifter or any other reason to pull the head you spend another ~$50. I'd just pony up for the ARP and if it is an alloy block step up to the studs.

Grimes

iTrader: (3)

don't reuse them, but save one and grind one side of the threads off of it. You can use this to chase the head bolt threads to clean them.

Bluepitbull

you cant reuse the stock headbolts they are a one time use, buy arp reusable ones, bc stock are a one time use again look around i found them through pace performance for 150 and you can reuse them if you decide to do aftermarker or port and polish the heads. arp 134-3609 is the part number for the correct bolts. 3610 will not work bc they are all same length. so look around you might find cheaper summit will price match also.

Bluepitbull

YES this is a major step use a air can or blow compressor to blow out the bolt holes if you dont when you torque the bolts you can crack the block. follow the torque procedure and place all pushrods guide plates ect in order in a cardboard box and mark them as they come out and reinstall in the same manner.

mark21742

Also be sure you get the correct head bolt set...if the bolt on each end inside the vslve cover is a different lenght than the rest of them in that row you have the (1st design) if all are the same length in that row you have the (2nd design)

98- 03 "should" be 1st design, 05-up "should" be 2nd design and 04, depending on the moth the engine was made could be either

maxgee

iTrader: (5)

I found this very interesting.

sander_camaro

So this actually shows why you need to replace torque to yield bolts.
The used bolt have already stretch and the material is deformed. Which makes it harder and more brittle.
Meaning it will take more force to stretch the bolt to the stock specs, which is twice 90 degree or so?
So you will just overtighten them using the stock specs.
Will this result in immediate failure? maybe not.
Changes off failure after a few hundred heat cycles and few pounds of boost? maybe.
The bolts are cheap and I would recommend using new ones or ARP in any performance application.

br549

Never reuse head bolts. Get new ones.

RedXray

When they reuse the head bolts they don't use the TTY method. They torque them to a set ft/lb through three passes much like rebuilding a SBC. That said ARP head bolts for me too. At a little over a hundred dollars for a set of bolts and washers... you know you are getting a more even distributed clamping force than with factory bolts new or used. Plus on some LS build/swaps # 8 bolt on bank one under the brake booster and # 7 bolt under the A/C box can be a SOB to get a good feel on the torque wrench on the final pass. It's comforting to me and my knuckles to have a quality manufactured bolt head lol.