punkdude908

i was able to get the broken bolt out with a small flat head screwdriver with no damage....thank god.

HOWEVER....

i went to the hardware store and got bolts that were the same thread and just about the same length as the old valve cover bolts and they seemed to work but they wont tighten all the way and i dont know why. they're holding but they're nowhere near being tight enough..its drivable but it leaks oil the same if not worse than before and i'm NOT comfortable keeping those bolts in there for long.

i need to know where to get new valve cover bolts (specifically) for an 83 firebird LG4 with perimeter valve covers (the short 1/4 x20 bolt ones)

suggestions??

Randy82WS7

probably wou;dnt tighten because they are too long

you could use studs like most of the LG4 engines did, especially the 1985 model year and 1983 and so on

go to junkyard and pull all kinds of them for free or cheap

use the load spreaders on them, dont forget that, or youll have leaks

wider the ones you use the better

the factory ones were super wide in the '80s and really nice


i have millions of the short lngth factory VC bolts/screws in all kind sof ocntainers and stuff around here but does no good being here and not where you are lol

if anything go by small time repair shops in your town and see if they have any laying around in drawers or buckets, etc

or if you have to shorten the ones you have so they dont bottom out the you can cut them by first threading a nut on them and then cutting them shorter and then grinding the cut end burs off and then threading the nut off them

or use a washer/spacer


this is a very minor problem here, easy to solve in many different ways


also jut to be trivial did you know that the very first years of the sbc engines(265ci and 283cifor example) used large round flat headed screws instead of hex head bolts for the VC's ?

i have some of them around too, they are pretty cool


good luck

Damon

I like using studs for the valve covers. You put them in once and never remove them again- little chance of cross-threading or stipping them out. Plus they hold the gasket it place while you put the valve cover back on. Moroso and Mr. Gasket make sets of various lengths. Just install the stud with a screwdriver until it bottoms in the threads, tighten a little and you're ready to begin reassembly.

bilms01

The use of spreaders with either bolts or studs I think are required especially with chrome valve covers. I usually use red lock-tite when putting studs in just for extra security.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

They are ¼"-20 x whatever length your gaskets & VCs require.

I'll "third" the spreader recommendation, with sheet-metal VCs. Also, since it sounds like they've maybe been overtightened at some point in their life, I'd suggest taking them back off, removing the gaskets, and hammering the holes back out; get the sealing flange completely flat, and the holes a little bit higher than the rest of the flange, so that when you tighten them, they get pressure on the rest of the flange instead of it all being concentrated on the holes.

You want something like these right here. When you tighten them, tighten them until the center of them around the bolt hole just barely touches the VC, and not much farther. Your hardware should be ¼"-20 x 1" if you're using factory VCs; you can get stainless bolts at Lowe's or other hardware stores, Allen head ones even if you want that look, and stainless washers. BE SURE NOT TO make them bottom out in the holes!!!

RacerXXX

Does anyone know if they make stud kits for centerbolt?

punkdude908

thanks for all the input guys...i think i'm just going to get some small washers and try to get the bolts i have to work...if all else fails i'll go get the stud kit.

and i dont think the retainer clip things will work on the stock lg4...it looks like there's not enough room cuz there's a lot of stuff in the way. could be wrong though.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Yeah.... could be...

There's no difference in that area between the LG4 and any other SBC with perimeter-bolt valve covers. They all fit the same. I've been using them for years. In fact, I have a set of some like that right now, on my mostly stock L69.