Chuck Cole

I have the heads back from the machine shop at a whopping $834 and while searching the many sites, a question came up. My engine is a 1968, and some of the listings are for 1/2" head bolts and some are 7/16" depending on whether mine is "early" or later. Now I don't have a micrometer and 1/16th of an inch is hardly noticeable with a ruler. What 350 was considered "early"? Secondly, does anyone have a good source of head bolts? I can only find them with Original Parts Groupso far and they are the ones that started the question 1/2" or 7/16". Any advice here would be appreciated as the freakin bolts are incredibly expensive and heavy to ship so I don't want to get the wrong ones etc. ARP is simply too expensive for street applications.

joe_padavano

Every single Olds V-8 from 1964 to 1976 uses 7/16" head bolts. Every single Olds V-8 from 1977-1990 uses 1/2" head bolts. As usual, aftermarket catalogs have errors.

I'm shocked, SHOCKED I tell you...

Chuck Cole

Got it! Thank you! 20 bolts for $100 is probably the best I'm going to do from Supercars Unlimited

oddball

I'm SURE you can get a set of original head bolts from someone on here for less.
I won't fault someone for spending $$$ on ARP hardware, but that kind of money for stock replacement bolts? yeesh. Post a parts wanted ad. Hell, I can probably scrounge together a set from my cobweb box.

Chuck Cole

I will take a look. I know that these are one use bolts so I would always worry about them if I bought some from a bin. When you are spending thousands for parts and machine work, $100 seems like a great deal

cdrod

Chuck:
If you need the early, 7/16" bolts, I have a complete set of used bolts from my recent engine build. I installed aluminum heads with ARP bolts.
Rodney

cdrod

Chuck:
If you need the early 7/16" bolts, I have a complete set of used bolts from my recent engine build. I went with aluminum heads and new ARP bolts. Let me know.

Rodney

Chuck Cole

Rodney,

Am I wrong or are we supposed to replace the bolts when they've been torqued down and then removed? I remember reading somewhere about the tensile steel bolts and got it in my mind that they cannot be re-torqued with accuracy and sometimes go soft when you get to the triple digit torque specs. If I am wrong and we all agree you can re-use them, I'm interested for sure.

Chuck

joe_padavano

You are wrong.

Newer motors use torque-to-yield bolts that are single use and must be replaced every time. Older motors like every Olds V8 ever built do not yield the bolts when torqued. They can be reused if not damaged.

Chuck Cole

Haha...then I have a set already in my throw away bucket..full of lifters and bolts. Strange how none of the sales places mention it! I am glad you cleared it up....I do not want to ever have to take the heads off again Thank you! Mine are the originals and I suspect have not ever been removed before...