Okay to re-use head bolts on the LT1???
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 857
From: Washington, Michigan USA
Okay to re-use head bolts on the LT1???
Hey guys, I'll be doing a cylinder head swap either late spring or early summer, and I'm trying to round up all the parts I'll need before hand. One item of discussion is weather or not we can re-use cylinder head bolts on the LT1 engine. I know the LS1 engine uses "torque to yield" head bolts which are designed to stretch during assembly and cannot be re-used. But what about the LT1 engines??? Is it okay to re-use our head bolts if they clean up well and look good? Has anyone out there re-used your head bolts after a cylinder head swap? Any problems with re-using LT1 head bolts?
TIA for all replys
TIA for all replys
Registered User
Joined: Jan 1999
Posts: 188
From: Florida
Ken95Z28, I think that all LS1's have torque to yeild bolts. You can use the bolts again on an LT1. I was going to re-use the head bolts for my LT4 conversion but had a change of mind. The head bolt part # is: 0070134-3601 from Jegs, and they are ARP. 
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
Last edited by sscott; Feb 5, 2003 at 04:29 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 378
From: Extended Stay America or Value Place, USA
Originally posted by ACA Performance
The question is why would you skimp out on something minor?
You were able to afford new heads but no bolts. Do it right.
The question is why would you skimp out on something minor?
You were able to afford new heads but no bolts. Do it right.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 525
From: Wichita Falls, Texas, U.S.
might as well try and reuse all of your old gaskets as well. and maybe you can use the same motor oil, just put it back in. 
why take a chance on something that is real simple to do and not very expensive?
why take a chance on something that is real simple to do and not very expensive?
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 129
From: British Columbia, Canada
Been there, done that
My 94 had torque to yield bolts in it from factory. I found out while trying to re-use them. Very scary, thinking I had pulled a thread out of the block. Replace them - every time. I used Felpro bolts - smaller hex, flange head style.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 378
From: Extended Stay America or Value Place, USA
Originally posted by bad95z28
might as well try and reuse all of your old gaskets as well. and maybe you can use the same motor oil, just put it back in. why take a chance on something that is real simple to do and not very expensive?
might as well try and reuse all of your old gaskets as well. and maybe you can use the same motor oil, just put it back in.
why take a chance on something that is real simple to do and not very expensive?
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 237
From: Shelby, NC
NO, NO, NO!!
A new set of bolts from GM is extremely cheap. I broke a head bolt during tear down at an IHRA race last year and had to pull the head back off. I used to use them twice before tossing them. Now I run ARP.
Daren
A new set of bolts from GM is extremely cheap. I broke a head bolt during tear down at an IHRA race last year and had to pull the head back off. I used to use them twice before tossing them. Now I run ARP.
Daren
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,132
From: Florida
Do yourself a Favor and replace those bolts. I was always told that our stock head bolts do stretch with added stress on em. I would not take the chance. Just get a set of stock replacement if they are cheap or the head bolts from ARP OR if you have a 160.00 laying around get the Head Studs from ARP. The head studs provide a much better clamping force and I was told my ARP that the Studs can be used over and over again. Also the new studs have an Allan key etched in the top of the stud so it makes it much easier to remove your heads with these allan keyed head studs (Easier than it use to be before with the old head studs without the allan key)
Hope that helps,
Hope that helps,
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 857
From: Washington, Michigan USA
First off, thanks to all who have replied. I didn't think I'd set off such a controversy with such a simple question 
Just for your info, the heads I'll be putting on are stock LT1 cores which I paid $300 for off this board. I will of course have about 50 hours worth of porting and polishing time "invested" in them when it comes time to install them. But, for the guys at ACA Performance, yes when you've only paid $300 bucks for the heads, another $60 bucks to replace perfectly GOOD bolts, does indeed make a difference. You guys will have to trust me on this one but I've done many an engine rebuild on other non - LT1 engines and the question is really simple, if the engine does NOT use "torque to yield" head bolts, and a thorough cleaning and inspection of the bolts does not show ANY problems, then you are just throwing money away by buying new fasteners. Remember, NEW head bolts will not make you car 1) go faster, 2) look better, 3) get better gas mileage, 4) smell better, etc. etc. etc. (you get the point here right?). In short, NEW head bolts if they are NOT needed, will do NOTHING for you car.
The peace of mind I will get in re-using my head bolts, (if they are NOT torque to yield fasteners), will come from the thorough cleaning and inspection I will give them, and the knowledge that they have been "proof tested" by already having been used in this application
Nonetheless, thanks to ALL who replied
Just for your info, the heads I'll be putting on are stock LT1 cores which I paid $300 for off this board. I will of course have about 50 hours worth of porting and polishing time "invested" in them when it comes time to install them. But, for the guys at ACA Performance, yes when you've only paid $300 bucks for the heads, another $60 bucks to replace perfectly GOOD bolts, does indeed make a difference. You guys will have to trust me on this one but I've done many an engine rebuild on other non - LT1 engines and the question is really simple, if the engine does NOT use "torque to yield" head bolts, and a thorough cleaning and inspection of the bolts does not show ANY problems, then you are just throwing money away by buying new fasteners. Remember, NEW head bolts will not make you car 1) go faster, 2) look better, 3) get better gas mileage, 4) smell better, etc. etc. etc. (you get the point here right?). In short, NEW head bolts if they are NOT needed, will do NOTHING for you car.
The peace of mind I will get in re-using my head bolts, (if they are NOT torque to yield fasteners), will come from the thorough cleaning and inspection I will give them, and the knowledge that they have been "proof tested" by already having been used in this application
Nonetheless, thanks to ALL who replied