Best locking header bolts?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Best locking header bolts?
I would ask this in the tech section but I've learned that the FI crowd tends to have a lot more knowledge/experience with high-performance products.
I'm installing a set of LG's soon and was thinking I might want to go a step further with locking HW. I have always used the stockers and have never had them loosen up or back out but there's always room for improvement.
So, what's the best locking header bolt out there? I've seen different setups such as the Stage 8 3-piece system, the Proform inter-locking washer setup, the NASCAR safety-wired type and the ARP stud kit. Any experience with these or other systems that you can give
to or disrecommend? Use em', don't use 'em? What's the general consensus here?
I'm installing a set of LG's soon and was thinking I might want to go a step further with locking HW. I have always used the stockers and have never had them loosen up or back out but there's always room for improvement.
So, what's the best locking header bolt out there? I've seen different setups such as the Stage 8 3-piece system, the Proform inter-locking washer setup, the NASCAR safety-wired type and the ARP stud kit. Any experience with these or other systems that you can give
to or disrecommend? Use em', don't use 'em? What's the general consensus here?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
I like the idea of the studs for installation - seems it would give you a nice "hanger" effect with no fear of stripping the threads in the head trying to get the first couple started. The locking double washers look doable as well but have the same drawback a standard bolt in getting #7 and #8 started.
The Stage 8's are a cool idea but I can see those being a pain in having to fiddle with the locking clips since it's not "line of sight" engagement/removal of that clip. I can foresee considerable use of expletives while searching for dropped clips and in trying to get them on/off by feel.
The Stage 8's are a cool idea but I can see those being a pain in having to fiddle with the locking clips since it's not "line of sight" engagement/removal of that clip. I can foresee considerable use of expletives while searching for dropped clips and in trying to get them on/off by feel.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
same here Had someone working on the car yrs back before using the ARP studs. Well got the car back with one bolt hole stripped out and he said after I called him on it, it was like that when he was working on it.
After that I have used the ARP studs set up never has back off.
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