Header Bolts, Which Ones?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 506
Likes: 1
From: Houston TX
Header Bolts, Which Ones?
I'm getting ready to install my stainless steel headers. What/which bolts should I use. On my C3 I had some bolts that had a arm that sliped over the bolt and was held on with a C-clip. The arm prevented the bolts from backing out. Are there similar bolts for an LS1? Or what have you found that works?
Thanks,
Mick
Thanks,
Mick
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 8
From: Southwest Virginia
I really like the design of the Breslin Performance Products bolts. They have a hex screw in the center of them that you turn to lock the bolt in place. Follow the link above and click the technical link to see how they work. Jegs and Summit sells them, I got stainless steel ones, they make them in steel also. They are not cheap but they seem to lock really well. The only problem I see with them is if someone don't know how they work and tries to take them out without releasing them first they will probably break them off or pull the threads out of the head.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,510
Likes: 240
From: Coconut Creek FL
Originally Posted by CorvetteMick
I'm getting ready to install my stainless steel headers. What/which bolts should I use. On my C3 I had some bolts that had a arm that sliped over the bolt and was held on with a C-clip. The arm prevented the bolts from backing out. Are there similar bolts for an LS1? Or what have you found that works?
Thanks,
Mick
Thanks,
Mick
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 281
Likes: 7
From: Arlington TN.
Originally Posted by SpeedyZ
I really like the design of the Breslin Performance Products bolts. They have a hex screw in the center of them that you turn to lock the bolt in place. Follow the link above and click the technical link to see how they work. Jegs and Summit sells them, I got stainless steel ones, they make them in steel also. They are not cheap but they seem to lock really well. The only problem I see with them is if someone don't know how they work and tries to take them out without releasing them first they will probably break them off or pull the threads out of the head.
I used Breslin's also and liked them. I used a 1/4" ratchet with a 1/4" socket to drive the hex bit. It worked great!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,550
Likes: 6
From: Now in God's Country, the Big Sky, Montana!
Cruise-In 7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
I used Stage 8 on my Mustang headers. They are locking bolts. I reused the stockers for the C5 and will probably switch to the Stage 8s when I pull the motor. No problems with the stockers so far.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
In all my time on this forum, 've never read once of any problem with header bolts loosening up on these engines.
I've had my headers on for 3 years, stock bolts, no problems. I've had the headers off once in that time, reinstalled them, same bolts, still no problems with loosening.
I think the fact you're threading into aluminum helps alleviate this issue. I'm sure they do make special locking type fasteners, but it's probably overkill - like fixing a problem that doesn't exist.
I've had my headers on for 3 years, stock bolts, no problems. I've had the headers off once in that time, reinstalled them, same bolts, still no problems with loosening.
I think the fact you're threading into aluminum helps alleviate this issue. I'm sure they do make special locking type fasteners, but it's probably overkill - like fixing a problem that doesn't exist.
