I recently slapped on new heads, headers and a new intake on my 84 Z. I spent the little bit of extra money buying new ARP hardware. I'm not a neat freak with the engine compartment by any stretch, but it does make a huge difference having new, clean bolts.

The difference isn't just asthetic, the stainless steel bolts have clean heads without any rounded edges from all of the years of people working on them. I didn't have to clean threads or worry about stripping a bolt head off.

The cost of the hardware was maybe a 3 to 5% increase in total expenses.

If I had to do it over again, I would use new hardware first and buy that K&N filter later!

Just food for thought.

 

You don't need new hardware if you don't take things apart

But yes, I really do agree with you. Don't scrimp on what's holding your engine together.