i was installing my headers(finally), and i broke one of the stage 8 header bolts i bought for it. it was not overtorqued, and if it was not by much. it broke inbetween the block and the header flange. the bolt is still connected together, but only barely. i will try to get pics up later. has anyone else had this problem?

 

not me man , that really sucks.

 

Either the bolt was weak or you have gorrilla arms to say "I didn't overtighten it." Next time try using a torqe wrench.

 

Sinking a steel bolt into aluminum threads, you wouldnt think youd see the head twist off. I think its a defective bolt, personally.

 

i was using a torque wrench, i think the bolt was defective

 

i broke a stock header bolt a few months ago, i brought it up to my mechanic and he told me that the bolts were bottoming out in the heads, which many people made it clear to me that its not possible for that to happen but whatever. if you cant get the bolt out, weld a nut on there and back it out, dont be too agressive on those aluminum heads though. kinda funny we both broke a header bolt on qtp headers.

 

Is the flange on the header the same thickness as a stock manifold?

 

its a little thicker, but not much

 

I don't know how it would be bottoming out if the flange is thicker than the stock manifold

Sorry to hear about your misfortune....hope you get it figured out soon.

 

im jsut glad that it was still in somewaht one piece, by a thread literaly

 

So, are you able to get the bolt out of the head?

 

yeah, it came right out amazingly, an actual thread was stll holding the 2 pieces together, and we were able to jsut back it out. if my damn comp will ever work, ill post pics of the bolt

 

Whoa, congrats on an easy fix. When my QTP's go in, Ill be using Stage 8 bolts. How hard is it to install all the little clips on the stage 8 bolts?

 

dunno, haven't done that yet. i need to retorque them after the first heat cycle to 18. looks like a bitch on the passenger side.

 

The clips aren't too hard to install, just take your time. Place the open end of the clip on the bolt head in a direction that you can just push it straight on with a large flat blade screwdriver. Duck bill pliers are the easiest way to remove them.

I have had the stage 8 bolts on my headers for about two years. I just installed some ported heads and used new exhaust manifold/header gaskets. I am leaving the clips off until I re-torque them one more time. I torqued them initially and again after one week. I'll re-torque them after a month and then install the clips.

BTW, Phoenix57, I think that you have a defective bolt. Call customer service at Stage 8 and I'm sure that they will send you a new one for free. I've found that the Stage 8 and the ARP guys are excellent to work with.

All my best,

Steve

 

def call Stage 8, they'll hook you up.

the clips are pretty easy if you do what Steve said. didn't have any problems here w/my passanger side, just pull the coil pack.

 

The flanges on my Pacesetter headers were .062" thicker than the stock manifolds.

 

well i got a free replacement bolt from QTP, who i bought the bolts from in the first place, today in the mail, put it on a few minutes ago. now i need to heat cycle the car before i can do the final tightening.