quickWS6

Why can't GM make bolts that can hold up to the abuse they see? I broke my first rocker arm bolt off in my head just by driving around town. Everything was torqued properly and rechecked. No problems until about 1000 miles after a cam change. Now I'm in the process of changing a cam on my friend's truck and the bolt broke off while my friend was changing a valve spring. Both have been on the #7 cylinder. It wasn't an error on our part, we made sure both the hole and the bolt were clean before we began. The bolt broke off while the spring was being decompressed too. Someone really needs to make hardened rocker arm bolts.

cyphur

iTrader: (10)

perhaps if someone gathered the specs and sent them to ARP, along with a consensus(or some sort of petition, anything showing a mass interest) they might look into it. may not be the cheapest of bolts but well worth it.

Z28Venom

iTrader: (13)

Were you using a lever style tool to remove the springs? If so, those things are notorious for breaking off bolts.

I just stripped one of the rocker bolt holes in my passenger head, so I feel your pain..

mnc2886

I like this idea of making stronger bolts, but you know if they were to put something that cost gm $300, they would yank the cost up another $1000 on the car. I'd rather it be aftermarket.

quickWS6

It is a lever-style tool that has been modified (shortened, and slight grinding). Lots of members on here use one like this from what I've read. This will be the 6th cam install I've used this tool on and the first bolt I've broken with it.

I would honestly pay as much for ARP rocker arm bolts as their head studs cost if I knew they wouldn't break.

GS WS6

The problem is not usually the bolt breaking it is the threads stripping/or pulling out of the head, a stronger bolt is only going to make that problem worse.

Personally I would rather deal with a broken bolt.......

quickWS6

Since I haven't had that happen yet, my concern is bolt strength over the strength of the threads. There is nothing that can be done for the threads, unless the head was cryo'd. I'd rather helicoil a bolt hole than risk having to pull the heads on a daily driver when you aren't prepared to (no gaskets, bolts, no money to get heads milled, etc.). I'm hoping we won't have to pull the heads, but it is going to be tricky to back this bolt out on the #7 cylinder.

quickWS6

Well, we got the bolt out with a right angle drill and a torx-head screwdriver. Now just to find another bolt ASAP...

Z28Venom

iTrader: (13)

Local dealer..

quickWS6

The problem with that is this is his daily driver and I highly doubt any of the dealers around here would have one in stock. But a friend of mine at a junk yard is going to help me out with one.

cyphur

iTrader: (10)

Definitely good news. Glad to hear you got it worked out. But what about the bolt idea?

YOOFORMULA

iTrader: (6)

My buddy stripped the heck out of the bolt heads when he was helping me out so as a precaution, I now keep at least 4 extra NEW rocker arm and valve cover bolts in my garage at all times.

distortion_69

iTrader: (20)

You'd be surprised. It is in stock at alot of dealerships. I had to look them up locally before.

FWIW: I guarantee if you get a tool like Larrys tool, it'll be a long long time, possibly enver, before you break another one. I broke 2 using the modified lever tool. The tool larry made has been used on over 10 different occasions just in the past 3 months.. It'd be very difficult to damage something with this tool.

Josh