Stage 8

[BlackNBlue95]

I just orderd me some Stage 8 Header bolts for my LT1.. anyone here use them before? I am just getting tired of blowing header gaskets I tighten the bolts down enough I shouldn't have this problem but I have replaced the gaskets a few times.. and found the bolts were loosend up a little a few times.. but this time one of the bolts walked all the way out and is gone!!!.. damm headers I wouldn't suggest them again as a mod unless I had an engine built pretty damm good and needed the extra little bit of flow.. atleast not shorties.. hooker's instructions said the hard work would be justified by the performance (something like that anyhow) thats BS in my opinion anyhow back to the subject anyone use the Stage 8 header bolts? I'm just wondering how well they work I never got to see them upclose but from the pics on the net looks like that have an E clip and a cam or something to hold them from backing out... just hope another new set of gaskets and the Stage 8's solve my header problems.. I won't know the results for a while considering my trans job has been going no where due to time and money situations..

-Rick

 

[Ken]

I just came across a tip in the January issue of Chevy High Performance magazine that described ARP's recomendation of tightening its fasteners at least five times before using them. The reason being to burnish the threads and establish a wear pattern, which will provide more bolt stretch with the same amount of torque.

That said, here's a link to ARP's page entitled There are many "little" things to consider. Good luck.

_ken

 

[vettn94]

I think the Stage 8's will work good, like I said Jeff is using them.
Let me know how they work out for you.

 

[-=Jeff=-]

ARPs loosened up on me too, I bought Stage 8.

After they are tight there is a washer that locks on the head of the bolt (inside is hex shape). The out side has a groove inward to match to the tube of the header to lock the bolt in place. there is then a clip to hold the washer on.
They work great!!

http://www.stage8.com/AutomotiveStart.htm

 

[Ken]

With the bolt hole extensions (used for mounting the factiory bracketry) on the headers I got from TPiS there is no way to use the Stage 8 fasteners; there's nothing to lock 'em to. The ARP fasteners haven't loosened on me yet. I repeat--"yet".

_ken