lost another header bolt today coming home from SLP day at e-town... it's the same one.. last one on the passenger side... lock washer didnt help.. i've re-tighten it over and over.. it's not striped, cause when i make it tight, it's tight..the first to last bolt on the same header tube is almost on it's way out... anyone else experience this? all the other bolts are tight and never leak.. can i use lock-tite with alum. heads? i have GTP stage II heads and would hate to ruin them with the lock-tite..

thanks
vinnie

 

Are you using the 3/4" or 1" bolts? If the 3/4", maybe a 1" will hold better, having more threads in contact.

 

i'm using 3/4" ARP bolt... i went to the local speed shop.. they only had 3/4" or 1 1/2".. would 1 1/2" be too long?

thanks
vinnie

 

why not just buy some stage 8 locking header bolts?

 

i'm going to go with the STAGE 8 route, but i was just curious why the same bolt lossens up... why no the other ones?

thanks
vinnie

 

it has to do with the reverse cooling. because of the way the coolant flows through the heads, that paticular bolt has the most thermal stress on it, so it loosens up easier than the rest...i have to tighten mine every 2 weeks

 

thanks for the feedback..

vinnie

 

That same bolt came loose once on my stock manifold. <shrug> Apparently, it is a problem child.

 

I've always had the same problem with that bolt.

 

I'd just buy it in 1" form and see if that fixes the problem.