04goat350

iTrader: (1)

I need some new head bolts for when I swap my cam and heads but I have been told 2 different things. 1 I have to take the bolt out first to make sure that I dont have a LS1 with short and long head bolts. 2. That no they are the short style head bolts. which is correct and were is a good place to get head bolts I was looking speed inc they have APR head bolts for 115 shipped? or can someone tell me were to get GM head bolts?

badazz81z28

iTrader: (6)

You do need to pull the bolts to be certain of length. Look at SKSpeed for the bolts

Darkman

iTrader: (2)

In 2004 GM swithced to uniform length head bolts. The confusion lies in the fact that some 2004 vehicles could presumably have the pre-2004 holes/bolts which involved more than one length.

badazz81z28

iTrader: (6)

Yea, I read that the switch was like in the middle of the production year. I had the same problem, had to pull the heads to find out.

mark21742

I've worked on two 04's, one had the first design, one had second design

D.Jones

iTrader: (5)

I just took the heads off my 04 GTO ls1, and I have the early style (long and short). I wish I had the all short bolts because the arp short head bolts are just over $100 but the arp long/short bolts are about $170 :/ I just went with a set of new OEM GM head bolts for $50 because im on a budget lol.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

My 04 had the old style.

Sales2@Texas-speed

iTrader: (5)

50/50 Flip a coin and order to have something on hand and hope you guessed correctly, or pull a cover and two bolts to be sure. We stock both the GM and ARP bolt/stud sets for both early and late model. Let us know if we can help!

EdgarB

iTrader: (2)

Isn't there a way for the dealership to tell you by running your VIN?

04goat350

iTrader: (1)

thats what i thought But I have been told no

04goat350

iTrader: (1)

how much are both GM sets?

Sales2@Texas-speed

iTrader: (5)

Negative....the ones that "try" don't understand how their system works and will essentially be guessing as well.

Felix C

Build date is printed on the driver side door panel sticker or the metal data tag affixed to the core support above the drivers headlamp

According to the GM book it is thus:
12498545 - 97-12/03 LS1 & LS6 Engine Head Bolts – 15.48 per head
17800568 – 01/04 – present LS1/LS6/LS2 Head Bolts – 14.95 per head

But....

From the GTO website where members posted their build dates and bolt types. Process of elimination provided the following dates:
Up to and including Feb 2004 it is first design
Some time in March 2004 is is second design
We do not know when in February or March the change occurred.

Sales2@Texas-speed

iTrader: (5)

A good guess, but we've seen MANY build dates that have broken that "rule." I've personally seen as late as November 2004 use long/short bolts.

Felix C

^^Oh well. Good to know.