Before you install the cylinder heads you spent money on, I would recommend getting time certs installed in the header threads. I had to put them in my LT1 because a couple header bolt holes were a little stripped. They were not as cheap (cost wise) as heli coil, but rather cheap considering overall cost of heads.
The reason I bring this up is, I have NOT had to retorque my headers since installing the heads with the time certs done. I have stainless LT headers, and use nothing special bolts, or gaskets. I had used Earl Pressue gaskets (personal favorite) but had to use cheap o gaskets from an SLP shorty header I had laying around.
No leaks at all, and I have a quite a bit of heat cycles into it.

 

I'll have to get some of those if I ever have head work done, I already have a few bolts cross-threaded.

 

I really don't understand what everyones problem is with header bolts.. I use regular lock washers and don't have any problems at all. My headers have been on my car for 2 years now and I haven't touched the bolts since I put them in.

all this from a .13 cent lock washer

 

I just had problems starting the threads on some. I need to make sure my passenger side bolts are still tight, but I haven't touched them in about 6 months and they are fine.

 

I bought some header bolts from autozone for $3.99, threaded them in without doing anything special and they do their job. No leaks here.

 

Alvin, Some headers dontbolt up well or seal well with some gaskets. Just a quick fix, and I would hate to cross thread some heads while on. IMHO