Header bolts

[Tim W]

This maybe a dumb question but here goes. My Gibson header bolts are rusting. I want to replace them with stainless ARP header bolts. Summit says the ARP bolts are a 5/16 12 point bolt. I have alot of tools but I dont have any 12 points. Will a regular 6 point work or would I be risking rounding off the bolt?

 

[evilunclegrimace]

go to Lowes or some other big box store and buy a single wrench, A six point will not work

 

[kennythewelder]

This maybe a dumb question but here goes. My Gibson header bolts are rusting. I want to replace them with stainless ARP header bolts. Summit says the ARP bolts are a 5/16 12 point bolt. I have alot of tools but I dont have any 12 points. Will a regular 6 point work or would I be risking rounding off the bolt?

No,,, you need 12 point. 6 point socket or wrench will not fit a 12 point bolt. Thing with stainless, is that stainless is soft, and will gall then you wont be able to remove the bolt from the head. It will need to be drilled out, and the hole retaped. Grade 8 header bolts is a much better choice.

 

[Tim W]

I found my 12 pt wrenches. So grade 8 over arp SS bolts? I was going to use some ARP fastener lube

 

[PlayingWithTBI]

Stainless steel expands and contracts with heat more than mild steel and even more than hardened steel fasteners so, if they don't gall they'll keep working their way loose.

 

[Tim W]

Man I'm glad i asked. So what grade 8 bolts have a small enough head to get a good bite with a wrench due to the limited space and won't rust up like my Gibson bolts

 

[kennythewelder]

I painted my bolts with some VHT header bolts. Its hard to find a bolt that wont rust, but a harden d bolt will not rust as fast as a softer bolt will. Are you headers SST? My headers are black, as are my bolts. Also my truck is driven every day. This will help any rust issues. My headers have been on my truck a long time. I think I on my 3 set of header bolts.

 

[Tim W]

Yea my headers are SS. My truck gets driven maybe once a week if the weather is decent

 

[Redneckgeriatric]

cheap "stainless" will rust too. as will chrome. call garner wescott for better bolts, use never seize and safety wire. or, grade 8 allen head and never sieze.

 

[Erik the Awful]

I have to respectfully disagree with grade 8 or hardened bolts in exhausts. If it rusts through and breaks, you're going to have a devil of a time extracting it. As I said in another post, feel free to ask my how I know. The clamping force necessary to attach your exhaust is easily within the limits of grade 5 hardware.

I wonder if a lot of the issues with header bolts breaking is because people improperly use exhaust hangars. You don't want the exhaust swinging around, but you do want some give in the hangars to allow for engine torque. If a sideways force is repeatedly applied to the bolts they won't last long, even if they are grade 8.