VA1991Z28

iTrader: (1)

During my injector swap, I was able to get all those Torx bolts off OK. I soaked them for days with PB. Now, during reassembly of the intake runners, I got my torque wrench out set it to 20 lbs and wouldn't you know it, I ended up stripping two of those Torx bolts. I just couldn't get the right angle on the lower bolts on the passenger side regardless of the universal/extension combo I tried. I was lucky to get one out and was pissed so I went down to Advance Auto for replacements, well they couldn't help me. So I stop by the Chevy delearship & they had trouble finding any info on them. A mechanic came in and I asked him about it and he left and came back with a 6 point bolt 8mm - 1.25 x 30mm, its the same thead, but just seems to be a tiny bit (maybe one thread) longer. Will this bolt work with maybe a lock washer? Maybe no room for it & socket for the bolt that goes at the very bottom.

TPI parts (above) has a kit that fits, but uses allen head bolts. That should work, but maybe the same stripping problem later, I don't know.

So I searched the web and found ARP has a bolt kit for SB Chevy Tuned Port, part # 134-2005. I called then about it and they told me that it had 34 bolts & some washers of different sizes and that is what I needed for my engine, in hex or 12 point bolts. Has anybody used this kit? I haven't used anything from ARP, but I see their name everywhere. They want $73.34 for the kit. Summit has it for $60, but won't ship until 10/5 while Jegs doesn't have it. Any other thoughts or ideas to replace these Torx bolts?

Thanks

Scheister

i got the engine bolt kit from summit. and i was pretty pissed when i opened it. it had the intake manifold (good), timing cover, header bolts, thermostat housing, distributor and thats it. the only bolts i ended up using were the intake bolts. it didnt come with any for the fuel rail, runners or the plenum. i was pretty pissed about that.

Guest

AFAIK ARP is still not making metric bolts except $pecial order.

You will need to look around for a TPI bolt kit or TPI intake bolt kit, specifically. I know I have seen them before, just cant remember where.

Scheister

tpiparts.net has bolt kits.

87zjeff

iTrader: (4)

i got mine from the hardware store. ace harware had the allen bolts in the right sizes and i replaced all of them for like $20 bucks.

VA1991Z28

iTrader: (1)

According to ARP, their SB Chevy intake kit for tuned port engines is for our cars and comes with metric bolts. When I asked them what's in it, he read off that there 4 - 8mm x 30mm & 2 longer 8mm and so on.

I did see the TPIparts.net kit, but it has allen head bolts. I was hoping to get away from Torx & allen head bolts and use hex head bolts so I'd have a better chance of not stripping them. At least I hope so.

Anything has to be better than these crappy Torx head bolts. What were they thinking or smoking when they started using these.

firebirdjosh

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, I did that for my headers since its such a tight squeeze. Heavy duty stainless steel grade 8 allen head bolts. $20, alot cheaper than removing one stripped bolt. Just go to a hardware store and you'll be fine.

Scheister

a lot of people dont have a full set of torx drivers, also it makes it harder to work on, which makes more people bring their car to the dealer.

3.8TransAM

For the allen head style bolts, u can get a flex allen head bit.

It actually came with SLP runners. Its just like 4-6 inch long and has a rounded square end so u can get to it at an angle.

Makes getting to the lower bolts a breeze. As long as u start everything by hand and give it a jiggle, it should slip together nicely.

Course I tend to run a tap thru just to make sure almost everytime I disassemble mine too :-)

later
Jeremy

Guest

Yep, the allen head are easiest to deal with on the bottom, aside of reduced head size bolts.

Looks like ARP finally decided to add some metric bolts to their lineup sometime this year.