TPiS Bolts DO NOT BUY
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Las Vegas Nevada
TPiS Bolts DO NOT BUY
I got the fancy Stainless Steel bolt kit from TPIS, started installing my intake manifold tonight, and at 25-30# of tq (manual says 25-45# for tq spec) they started to strip out.
I am going to try taking each one out one by one and replacing them with new bolts (I'll have to wait untill morning to hit the bolt shop unfortunatly), and HOPE that everything will be ok.
I am very PISSED that a company like TPIS sells a kit with such a lack of quality to it, I will be calling them to vent tommorow or monday....
Matt
I am going to try taking each one out one by one and replacing them with new bolts (I'll have to wait untill morning to hit the bolt shop unfortunatly), and HOPE that everything will be ok.
I am very PISSED that a company like TPIS sells a kit with such a lack of quality to it, I will be calling them to vent tommorow or monday....
Matt
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Las Vegas Nevada
Re: TPiS Bolts DO NOT BUY (corvette0096)
Lengths seemed to match, although I could not find a bolt to go in the lower runner spot, one gripped about 2 threads, the other longer bolt is 1/2" too long. Unfortunatly I cant find my stock bolts tonight, so I cant see whats up.
Matt
Matt
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
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Re: TPiS Bolts DO NOT BUY (VetteRacer282)
Let me get this straight, the bolts stripped going into an aluminum head?
Or is this an iron head?
Just relized, these were into the intake/runners.
A bolt stripped out, not the aluminum intake?
[Modified by bill mcdonald, 11:18 PM 8/23/2002]
Or is this an iron head?
Just relized, these were into the intake/runners.
A bolt stripped out, not the aluminum intake?
[Modified by bill mcdonald, 11:18 PM 8/23/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,019
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From: down that one road next to that big tree
Re: TPiS Bolts DO NOT BUY (bill mcdonald)
i was just going to say that, stainless steel...aluminum...the stainless stripped? hmm.. :rolleyes: oh well i need to go cut some diamonds with my hacksaw :D
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,483
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From: Las Vegas Nevada
Re: TPiS Bolts DO NOT BUY (bill mcdonald)
The bolt heads stripped (allen wrench), a few of the bolt heads are f'd to the point I probably have to slot and screwdriver them out cause the allen bit just spins free... that happened to one at 20 ft/# btw.
Sorry for the confusion on what stripped...
They are alum heads BTW..
Matt
Sorry for the confusion on what stripped...
They are alum heads BTW..
Matt
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Las Vegas Nevada
Re: TPiS Bolts DO NOT BUY (KLLRVET)
Yes I am sure. I have two full set of standard and metric allen wrenches/sockets, one being craftsman(sockets), a metric set of Park, and a another Craftsman standard set. I checked each set and found the right size, fit perfect in the begining.
Matt
Matt
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,483
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From: Las Vegas Nevada
Re: TPiS Bolts DO NOT BUY (Vic'89)
Over 4 years of using basically only allen bolts on my mountain and road bikes with no problems, I use Aluminum bolts that I have to put a bit of tq on even, never a problem...
Anyways, I have someone picking up some ARP manifold bolts as we speak. What I should have done from the start....
Matt
Anyways, I have someone picking up some ARP manifold bolts as we speak. What I should have done from the start....
Matt
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: TPiS Bolts DO NOT BUY (VetteRacer282)
Sorry to hear about that product quality but good luck with getting satisfaction from TPIS.
Their L98 cat-back system didn't "bolt right up" (it had to be cut and welded by an exhaust shop) and I never heard one line of response from my e-mail to them; their product quality still sucked as Vit'89 had the same problems with fitment of his cat-back.
Their L98 cat-back system didn't "bolt right up" (it had to be cut and welded by an exhaust shop) and I never heard one line of response from my e-mail to them; their product quality still sucked as Vit'89 had the same problems with fitment of his cat-back.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,597
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From: Bartlett Illinois
Re: TPiS Bolts DO NOT BUY (VetteRacer282)
I had the same problems with them.. I ended up buying all ARP in place of the TPIS stuff..
They are not very good, I had the same Stripping problem you are seeing. If I would have known you were getting them I could have warned you
They are not very good, I had the same Stripping problem you are seeing. If I would have known you were getting them I could have warned you
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
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Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: TPiS Bolts DO NOT BUY (VetteRacer282)
I bought this TPIS SS kit a few years back and never installed it.Im glad now that I didnt.I was only planning to use the kit for the runners and plenum,but not the intake.Button head bolts arent something I wouldnt use for an intake or something with a bit more torque required to get them in.The factory torx is bad enough when worrying about stripping.
Come to find out,TPiS gets this kit from someone else so maybe they arent aware of the quality or are they?
There is a company I have a catalog for somewhere,called Gardner-westcott I think,Im not sure the exact name,I can look it up later.They supply street rods and many automotive applications for SS bolts,fasteners,washers and etc.They also carried the ARP line as well.If these arent the guys that supply TPIS then Ill get the number for you.They may even have a web site by now.
Hopefully they have better quality stuff.
Im always looking for good quality fasteners,screws and etc.
:)
