Header bolts: A correction
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,616
Likes: 65
From: NYC
Header bolts: A correction In the past, I’ve had good experience using the 3/8 X 1 inch intake manifold bolt kit from Spectre Performance available in various places such as Auto Zone for like eight bucks, with a wrench.
I said these were great bolts and as good as much more expensive bolts on the market. It was as much about ease of finding and purchasing them as well as the cost.
I’ve noticed a reason to not use them for header applications and I wanted to post this "correction" here.
I’ve had these bolts in use as header bolts for about two years now. With time and cyclic heating/cooling, the points of the 12 point heads have seemed to rounded off from corrosion or some other effect. It looks like after enough time, a wrench might spin on them making them impossible to remove. This would obviously be a huge problem. Just for the record, they’ve never loosened, not a one.
I hate stainless hardware. It’s soft, easy to strip and gall, may cause galvanic actions with other materials and isn’t the strongest fastener. I stay away from using stainless fasteners anywhere.
This is an instance where stainless steel bolts would be better than steel. I’m changing my header bolts over to ARP 400-1211 bolts. Just like the Spectre bolts, they’re one inch UHL and will go into the head deep enough to resist loosening up. Wrench not included.
These will be the only stainless fasteners on my car.
I said these were great bolts and as good as much more expensive bolts on the market. It was as much about ease of finding and purchasing them as well as the cost.
I’ve noticed a reason to not use them for header applications and I wanted to post this "correction" here.
I’ve had these bolts in use as header bolts for about two years now. With time and cyclic heating/cooling, the points of the 12 point heads have seemed to rounded off from corrosion or some other effect. It looks like after enough time, a wrench might spin on them making them impossible to remove. This would obviously be a huge problem. Just for the record, they’ve never loosened, not a one.
I hate stainless hardware. It’s soft, easy to strip and gall, may cause galvanic actions with other materials and isn’t the strongest fastener. I stay away from using stainless fasteners anywhere.
This is an instance where stainless steel bolts would be better than steel. I’m changing my header bolts over to ARP 400-1211 bolts. Just like the Spectre bolts, they’re one inch UHL and will go into the head deep enough to resist loosening up. Wrench not included.
These will be the only stainless fasteners on my car.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,162
Likes: 0
From: St. Augustine, FL
good to know.. I actually remember your other thread about those spectre bolts and thought about checking that out eventually. thanks for the update. You still think the copper gaskets are a good investment? I've heard mention of aluminum 'crush type' header gaskets recently and didn't know they made that for the LT1. making me curious.
