billrigsby Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 Doing some research on head bolts and I'm wondering people's opinions. $3 a piece at Vintage Power Wagon About $35 for a box of 25 Pioneer brand from Summit Racing, which I believe I've seen being suggested in the past. It's my understanding they have to have the taper to prevent some kind of freezing from rust. Other options / suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 I believe the summit ones have a different head so if you are going for the OEM look they won't work for you. Yes the bolts need to have an undercut shank to avoid rusting into the head. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brent B3B Posted August 26, 2021 Report Share Posted August 26, 2021 Did you call Vic? https://vicsdodgegarage.com/product/new-l6-headbolt-2/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billrigsby Posted August 26, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2021 I do see the difference, I do want to go for the 'original' look. just not sure what that is. Without going out to the crates and looking at all the other engine head bolts I have, the ones out of the original engine look like the Pioneers. (on the right) But who's to say they are the originals after ≠ 70 years. I am guessing the ones from Vic's are like the originals, the heads look larger? VPW and Andy Bernbaum do not have good photos. I'll have to look into this more and call Vic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ggdad1951 Posted August 26, 2021 Report Share Posted August 26, 2021 12 hours ago, billrigsby said: Doing some research on head bolts and I'm wondering people's opinions. $3 a piece at Vintage Power Wagon About $35 for a box of 25 Pioneer brand from Summit Racing, which I believe I've seen being suggested in the past. It's my understanding they have to have the taper to prevent some kind of freezing from rust. Other options / suggestions? hindsight I wish I had popped for the $3 per at VPW.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkahler Posted August 26, 2021 Report Share Posted August 26, 2021 I bought my replacements from VPW years ago. The ones I bought don't look 100% original but they are the correct style for the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted August 26, 2021 Report Share Posted August 26, 2021 I would think either of those would look correct when painted up and installed. The few I looked at were a plain head with an R on them. Would the originals have a DPCD head? Not sure.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ggdad1951 Posted August 26, 2021 Report Share Posted August 26, 2021 30 minutes ago, Young Ed said: I would think either of those would look correct when painted up and installed. The few I looked at were a plain head with an R on them. Would the originals have a DPCD head? Not sure.... I'd have to dig mine out to look...could also check PUMA's engine I guess later today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kencombs Posted August 26, 2021 Report Share Posted August 26, 2021 I think the Summit bolts are made for the small block Chevys. They use an 11/16ths head because of the need for clearance around the head on the V8. a 3/4 socket wouldn't fit in some places on them, especially an impact socket. I'm not particularly concerned about appearance but would use a grade 8 washer on my six if I needed bolts. Just to spread the load from the smaller bolt head more evenly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg g Posted August 26, 2021 Report Share Posted August 26, 2021 (edited) Thr pioneer bolts are very similar if not the same as the Summit. I have posted pictures and part numbers several times. You might want to search for headbolts under my member posts. Edited August 26, 2021 by greg g Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted August 26, 2021 Report Share Posted August 26, 2021 7 hours ago, kencombs said: I think the Summit bolts are made for the small block Chevys. They use an 11/16ths head because of the need for clearance around the head on the V8. a 3/4 socket wouldn't fit in some places on them, especially an impact socket. I'm not particularly concerned about appearance but would use a grade 8 washer on my six if I needed bolts. Just to spread the load from the smaller bolt head more evenly. I checked a few of the old ones I had laying around and they were also 11/16 head Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgeb4ya Posted August 27, 2021 Report Share Posted August 27, 2021 This is what I always seem to see on original 23" engines. My 1952 Belvedere had the same depressed head style in 1972 when I rebuilt the engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted August 27, 2021 Report Share Posted August 27, 2021 2 hours ago, Dodgeb4ya said: This is what I always seem to see on original 23" engines. My 1952 Belvedere had the same depressed head style in 1972 when I rebuilt the engine. Digging through my pile I had a bunch like that although yours appears to have an M in the middle and I had A. Then I had a bunch of smooth headed ones with TR raised in the center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgeb4ya Posted August 27, 2021 Report Share Posted August 27, 2021 1 hour ago, Young Ed said: Digging through my pile I had a bunch like that although yours appears to have an M in the middle and I had A. Then I had a bunch of smooth headed ones with TR raised in the center. I think I have some TR bolts too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
49D-24BusCpe Posted August 27, 2021 Report Share Posted August 27, 2021 A - American M - Michigan R - Republic or Rockford TR - Towne Robbins 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
49D-24BusCpe Posted August 27, 2021 Report Share Posted August 27, 2021 P - Pioneer I missed this fastener company! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billrigsby Posted October 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2021 Finally got my head bolts, ordered them a few days before the last Holiday, arrived this week, no urgency on Vic's part, but I was not in a rush..... .....a seed and fertilizer spreader for the tractor kind of got in the way of this project Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.