Impossible to trighten 12 pt header bolts?!?!?!
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Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: Yet another 350 TPI
Transmission: Borg Warner 6 spd
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Impossible to trighten 12 pt header bolts?!?!?!
Recently got new ceramic coated headers. Decided that I didn't want to look at rusty header bolts anymore, and didn't want to spend 1/2 hour tightening the last bolt on the passenger side. Figured I'd get some stainless 12 pt ones from ARP. They were much easier to tighten than regular 6 pt heads, except for the fourth one on each side. I can't get a closed end wrench or a socket on them because the primary turns to close to the bolt head. How the hell do you tighten it down then? I can't use an open end wrench from teh side because its a 12 pt.
Surely I'm not the only one with 5 12 pt bolts, and one 6 pt on each header???
Surely I'm not the only one with 5 12 pt bolts, and one 6 pt on each header???
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Car: 91 Formula WS6 (Black, T-Tops)
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Or grind down a 3/8ths socket so it has a really thin wall where it hits the headers.
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Car: 82 Z28
Engine: Al LT1 headed LG4 305
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.73 posi with spacer
Capscrews are the only way to go. I will never use bolts again on headers...
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Car: 1984 ta slightly modified
Engine: 350
Transmission: auto 350 w/reverse valve body
Axle/Gears: 410 ratio
I have had the same problem no mater what style bolt is in that location. I took a flat screw driver between the head of bolt and tube and CAREFULLY wiggled it down through there until a wrench would fit, And yes I have a few ground down wrenches also.
#9
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I regularly use a combination of bolts and "cap screws" (allen-head bolts) on my various header installs. Sometimes it's easier to get a socket on, sometimes it's easier to get a wrench on, sometimes it's easier to shove an allen wrench in the end of it. All depends on the circumstances for any given bolt location.
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Car: 1987 Camaro Z-28
Engine: 6.3L Victor EFI
Transmission: Tremec TKO 600
Axle/Gears: Moser 9"/4.11 Trac-Lok
I start by putting all the bolts only a couple of turns & move the header foward or back to gain access to the most difficult bolt heads. Some of the tubes would block direct access with an allen wrench, so I use 12 point bolts & a 3/8" combo wrench.
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Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: Yet another 350 TPI
Transmission: Borg Warner 6 spd
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Thanks for all the input. Didn't think I'd get this many replies.
Yeah, I thought about grinding down a boxed end wrench, but am not even sure if its worth the effort.
I have tons of socket cap screws laying around, never thought of using them.
Question: Right now I have the 12 pt ARP stainless screws. Am I wrong to assume that just because they are made by ARP that they are any stronger than regular stainless steel?
Yeah, I thought about grinding down a boxed end wrench, but am not even sure if its worth the effort.
I have tons of socket cap screws laying around, never thought of using them.
Question: Right now I have the 12 pt ARP stainless screws. Am I wrong to assume that just because they are made by ARP that they are any stronger than regular stainless steel?
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Car: 1987 Camaro Z-28
Engine: 6.3L Victor EFI
Transmission: Tremec TKO 600
Axle/Gears: Moser 9"/4.11 Trac-Lok
Originally posted by Apeiron
They might be stronger, but what difference does it make?
They might be stronger, but what difference does it make?
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Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: Yet another 350 TPI
Transmission: Borg Warner 6 spd
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Mainly because I've broken off , and rounded off my share of factory header bolts before, and it should be easier to round off corners, etc... if they are made of a softer material. Stainless steel isn't exactly the strongest thing out there.
They sure are nice to look at though....
They sure are nice to look at though....
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Car: 86 T/A
Engine: HSR 355
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.77 posi
I rounded the heads of my hedman bolts. They were that porous metal that just feels cheap. Rusted in a few days as well. I got 3/8" thread 3/4" length stainless steel allen head bolts for $1.25 a piece, so at $15 and no shipping fees its definitely the best deal in my book. I'm actually working on a way to cut my allen wrench down about 1/2" on the shorter side so it clears the bend in the primaries. Then we're talking 5 minute header installs.
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