C4B4the04

Esteemed gents of SBC speed...

Have a VERY stock 82 with 27K miles on her. She was seeping around the front seal and I decided to opt for a new one piece gasket. Got the CORRECT one (the Felpro 1881, not the one with two dipstick tabs hanging off of it) but now I am stuck.

What bolts do you all use? The new gasket looks like it will do a great job but the bolts a far too short. If you have a suggestion I am VERY open to hear it. I don't even mind doing the Home Depot thing (going to paint the heads blue anyway).

Suggestions are most appreciated!

Cassidy

7t9l82

i would recommend ARP bolts , not garbage from the hardware store. if you need it today try Speed Unlimited , they are over in the marlow heights area. there maybe other speed shops in the area now. I've been in Florida several years now but spent most of my life in Fairfax and Annandale.

bashcraft

I'm confused. Why would the bolts be too short?

noonie

The Felpro I got comes with the bolts and I just trim off the dipstick tabs, can't tell.

qwank

mine came with bolts too

Jig A Low

Same here

Cstraub69

1/4" x .750" UHL x 14 pcs
5/16" x .750 UHL x 4 pcs

jnb5101

ace hardware has a great selection of #5 and #8 bolts.

C4B4the04

Thanks for the suggestions, folks! I ordered a set of the ARP bolts designed for the one piece gasket. If any of you guys decide to get the one piece gasket, there are a few options. The one that has the dipstick tube opening on both sides works fine. I opted for the one without it, and it does NOT come with the bolts. Funny how that works...

The bolts that the car comes with are just too short for the thicker gasket. The gasket is close to 1/4 inch in thickness, whereas the paper one is closer to 1/16. The bolts simply just don't reach.

Appreciate the heads up on the sizes. Thank you for that option.


From Stevesnovasite.com is a great review of what gaskets fit what (in case this helps anyone in the future)


PN1881 1980-85 thick front seal RH dipstick; side rails trimmed for strokers
PN1880 1975-79 thick front seal LH dipstick; side rails trimmed for strokers
PN1885 1957-74 thin front seal LH dipstick
PN1882 Thick front seal straight side rails; side rails trimmed for strokers
PN1886 1986-97 thick front seal, one 1pc rear main seal GM bowtie short deck block



Cassidy

Dan H.

I bought the one from fel pro that came with the bolts. Almost more important is that it came with these blue screw in pegs that hold the gasket in place while you put the pan on. I thought these were a great idea and helped alot!

DucatiDon

DITTO! Made the swap a CINCH!!

C4B4the04

For future "readers" of this, I was able to get a set of ARP bolts online that did a perfect job. I used the two studded type fasteners from the original setup for the knock sensor shield on the passenger side, otherwise they all worked perfectly. Torqued to factory settings and my gasket doesn't have that little "nubbin" of a blue bit coming out the drivers side. Perfect for me. Cost more but I planned on doing it once, as the original lasted 31 years!

Thanks for the help all,
Cassidy