Search the Community

Hey guys, I’ve been looking around for some head bolts for my 230 engine and I can’t seem to find very many options as far as head bolts go, so I just wanted to ask what you all use and where you get them?

Well it had to happen, I blame it on the newly mounted, swap meet scored, pretty chrome used hub caps. Truck started to run like it was missing, back fire thru the carb and just no power. A good friend Hank ( HanksB3B ) and I put our heads together ( Cuz 2 minds are better 1 ) and since I had never done a tune up on 'ol Bessie we figured it might help, Sure couldn't hurt. Hank had a few used but serviceable parts and I had time and a place to swap things out. Swapped out everything tried to fire her up and nutting. Took a look at Hank's extra DIst. with marked wires and found out I miss it by one. Fired right up, still missing Took the truck to Pop's shop to do a compression test got the darn adapter stuck in cylinder # 1 ( 120 psi ) Tried to pry it out, Tried to air drive under pressure to catch a thread. Wasted over 2 hours without any success. With Hank's help we decided to pulled the head off, I was able to remove from the head/block 20 & 3/4 bolts. NOT HAPPY ! Well turns out had a blown head gasket anyway, so the head was coming off anyway. The busted bolt is being soaked with liquid wrench and has been drilled for an ez out. Head gasket is ordered and will take head to machine shop for a surface grind in the AM. I know from searching the posts grade #8 bolts are not used and Chevy Bolts are one option to consider. I plan on using copper spray on the head gasket and thread sealer on the NEW bolts, I've got a tap to chase the threads of all holes before I install them, The question is what year Chevy? I am guessing I go to the local parts house and just size them up, but if anybody knows an exact year it might help. I do plan on doing the torque settings and only want to do this once. Thanks for any help and advice.

Hey guys, I am ready to put my head on after getting a valve unstuck but am running into a problem. When chasing the threads my 7/16-14 tap is VERY tight after about 4-5 threads, to the point I stopped and didn't go any further because it felt like I would be removing steel rather than rust/debris. Is 7/16-14 the right size? Am I doing something wrong? I'm using 3 in 1 oil and drenching the threads and tap beforehand, and started, then backed off, repeat, but can't get further than the first four or five threads. Also, I bought Pioneer bolts, but noticed they have less threading than the stock bolts--did anyone else notice this when they did theirs or did Pioneer change something? I only wonder because it looks like it would be real close in terms of having enough thread to get proper torque specs. Thanks all.

First let me thank everyone with their previous help. I'm new to working on my 47 plymouth. So sorry for all the questions. I have started to remove the head bolts to change the head gasket. So far most have come out with out breaking. Till tonight. I broke my first one on the exhaust manifold side and it feels like the remainder on that side feel like they are going to break as well. I've tried penetrant but I don't think it will make it past the heads of the bolts down to the threads. Does anybody have any tips? I hate to spend hours drilling and ez outing. Any and all help much appreciated. Jeff