Which SHCS Head Bolts

Cowboy303

Cowboy303

New member
Howdy Guys, I replaced my head bolts with Socket Head Cap Screws last year, well due to some compounded crappy choices, the HG blew and the head is in the shop. Last time I used some Fastenal and some Mcmaster bolts, one of the Fastenal bolts was the one that failed. I thought I had gotten Holo-Krome brand from Fastenal, but they appear to be marked "FKE" instead of HK. So, I'm looking to get the best bolt I can, just to give me the best chances possible.

The McMaster Carr Bolts "have a minimum tensile strength of 170,000 psi. and a minimum Rockwell hardness of C38" and "have a Class 5g6g thread fit. They meet DIN 912/ISO 4762." The baggie the bolts came in said "made in taiwan", and the bolts have "LOBO" in the top of them.

The Holo-Krome bolts meet the same 4762/912 specs, and have the same 5g6g thread fit. However I can't find anything about rockwell hardness or psi rating.

With my somewhat conservative goals (400hp max), I could probably run stock bolt. But I would rather go this route.

What brand would you guys go with?

Thanks.
 
Both stock head bolts and the socket head caps are 12.9. The head bolts are waisted for even stretch throughout, unlike the SHCS. And they were spec'd for use in your engine. Get some stock bolts and put them in, or get some studs. Quit wasting money on generic bolts and headgaskets.
 
Just to correct what I said above, the stock Mcmaster bolts bag actually says "Made in Italy".

Thank you all for your opinions, I'll do some pondering on it. Studs are basically out of the question due to small goals and even smaller budget, This is basically a budget beater that I have more fun wrenching & tweaking on then actually driving.
 
Cowboy303 said:
Just to correct what I said above, the stock Mcmaster bolts bag actually says "Made in Italy".

Thank you all for your opinions, I'll do some pondering on it. Studs are basically out of the question due to small goals and even smaller budget, This is basically a budget beater that I have more fun wrenching & tweaking on then actually driving.
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I understand the budget beater theory, but by the time you account the wasted set of bolts and gasket you just used, and the next set your going to use, you have spent as much as a set of ARP 2000 studs.
 
Cowboy303 said:
Just to correct what I said above, the stock Mcmaster bolts bag actually says "Made in Italy".

Thank you all for your opinions, I'll do some pondering on it. Studs are basically out of the question due to small goals and even smaller budget, This is basically a budget beater that I have more fun wrenching & tweaking on then actually driving.
Click to expand...

Lots of people with budget trucks tighten stock head bolts to 125-130 ftlbs. You're going to want probably two sets of bolts though because they'll start to stretch, then you throw that bolt out and try the next.

I don't recommend this, but it's certainly cheap to do!
 
People on a tight budget end up spending twice as much as doing it right the first time. I used to be one of those guys that tried everything in my power to save a dime. Every time I spent more time worrying if it would work than enjoying my truck. Take it for what it is worth OP but it is much more enjoyable to do things right and have confidence in your truck than to put it on the ragged edge with questionable parts.

Laundry list of things I always worried about when I had fastenal bolts in my truck years ago:

tow truck bill
head gasket
resurfacing the head
possibly destroying my engine if some randomly broke after install allowing coolant into my oil

$400 on arps and call it a day. Today you want 400hp but I promise you tomorrow you will be bored of it and keep wanting more.
 
I'd say, even at 400hp, stock bolts (or new replacements) would do just fine. As said a few times already, stock bolts or $400 for ARP 2000s is cheaper in the long run than spending time and money playing around trying to find "the right" bolt.
 
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