5.3 head bolts

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Jun 13, 2018 | 09:04 PM

Edalcrx

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5.3 head bolts

Hi. I'm doing a head gasket swap on my 1999 5.3L engine. I bought a new set of head bolts from felpro part# es72173 wich I believe is the correct part # for my engine. It's a first design head bolt engine. The new bolts are the same in length as the oem ones but the threads are shorter about an inch shorter in all the long bolts. I have compared the felpro bolts with another manufacturer replacement bolts and they are the same and have the shorter threads on the long bolts compared to the oem bolts. Can I use the fel pro bolts? Won't they bottom out before reaching the torque spec? Thanks in advance for you're help.

Oem bolt on the left. Replacement bolt on the right.
hi

Jun 14, 2018 | 07:31 AM

KCS

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From: Conroe, TX

I’m sure that Fel Pro knew what they were doing, but just to verify, you should measure the thread length. Slide something like a wire coat hanger along the side of the bolt hole until you teel the start of the threads and mark the wire hanger at the top of the hole. Then slide it in further to the bottom of the hole and mark it again. The difference in the two marks would be your thread length, so you can conpare it side by side to the bolt and see if its longer or shorther. If they're the same or the thread length in the block is shorter, you shouldn’t have any issues.

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