ok, i have whats in the sig...

tightening the damn header bolts EVERY weekend is growing old fast, especially since you have to remove the alternator to get to anything on the passenger side...

do they make friggin bolts that stay tight?!?

i'm not gonna use any kind of thread locker for obvious reasons...

how bout copper gaskets? do they make these for the lt-1? this way, gaskets won't blow out if i can't re-tighten right away?

please please please, if anybody knows of bolts/studs that will stay put and not back out all the damn time, please let me know.

thanks in advance

 

Are you using 1" bolts? I have for two sets of headers and other than the initial retightening they have stayed tight. ARP bolts by the way. There are the Breslin bolts if nothing else works, expensive though.

 

What are you using? I always use and recommend ARP 1" bolts and Felpro gaskets. After 1-2 heat cycles I have had to retighten them but never had a problem after that. I have used this combo several times on several different cars and never had a problem.

 

I use a combination of ARPs and the ones that came with my Pacesetters and give them a couple head cycles then retorque and they're good to go.

 

On my next build up I'm going to try the Breslin header bolts in the hard to get places. I have the Earl's header gaskets which have been excellant. I have one bolt missing on #8 cylinder and they still are sealing.

 

I've been using the breslin bolts for the past year. Only tightened them when I put them on. Much easier to use then the stage 8 locking header bolts and work just as well.

 

I got the Stage 8 locking header bolts. I decided on these over the Breslins cause of the double hex head so an Allen wrench can be used, this made screwing in the bolt in a lot easier. I was also concerned that the Breslins internal stud might freeze up. The 12 point Breslin heads also limit the amount of usable tools, you cant use an open end wrench on them.

The header retainer and e-clips were not as bad as I expected, but they did take a magnetic retriever and a bit of finesse. I would reccomend ordering spare retainers and e-clips from Stage 8 if or when they need to be removed for obvious reasons.

Either way you will not have to worry about header leaks.

 

wtf....

I used the ones that came w/ the headers...whatever pace-setter is supplying as hardware.

I think I may just get a real good set of gaskets and then some arp 1" bolts...

This sucks..., at least i won't have to snake those bad boys up and through again like on the initial install

 

I have the Pacesetter headers and didn't have any luck taking care of header leaks until I got Earl header gaskets with the 1" ARP bolts...checked them after a couple of heat cycles and have been fine since.

 

ARP's FTW

 

Question to those using the ARP 1" bolts:

Those bolts have 5/16" heads, unless I am mistaken. Now, do you use a torque wrench to tighten them? If you do how? I can't get the socket on most of the bolts due the angle of pipes coming off the flange. If you don't use a torque wrench, do you just use a little wrench?

Sorry to hijack the thread, but a tool sticky may be a good idea.

 

ARP part#400-1210
3/8" x 1" 12 pt. header bolt kit

I believe I used a small 8mm closed end wrench..able to get to all bolts easily either from the top or bottom.

 

It is impossible to get a torque wrench down in there. If you are using a 5/16"
wrench that is about 5" in length, all you need to do is tighten it as tight as you can and this is adequate. You wont over do it with such a small wrench and a little common sense.

 

http://www.go-breslin.com/Splitlock.html

I feel your pain as I've been down this road more times than I care to admit. I used the stage 8's but they sucked because sometimes you have to loosen the bolt to get the lock tab to line up with the tube. Sometimes almost 1/6 of a turn (one flat). Some tabs you have to custom grind to get them to fit over the bolt head and against the exhaust tube. You will loose a locking tab/c-clip or two. The breslins worked great early last year and I have not touched them since (8,000 miles or so). I love the lack of exhaust ticking! Also, the breslins have a smaller bolt head so even though it is 12 point, you will find you can get a socket on most of them. I bought 3 different length sockets. I think one bolt I had to grind my closed wrench to make a custom open wrench and it worked great.

 

Just get the 1" regular bolts like others mention. I ground down the closed end of an open/closed wrench so that it would fit between the bolt head and the primary. Works awesome. After the 1st retightening, mine have stayed tight. I used the Mr. Gasket Ultraseal header gaskets, which are very similar to the Felpros.

Dan