is it stupid???

[63bird390]

to reuse original 5.0 head bolts if they look good?

 

[2000xp8]

Yes it is. They stretch. Visually you would probably never find anything wrong with them. So they all "look good".
It's a really bad idea considering a set of arps really isn't that expensive for a pushrod engine.

 

[63bird390]

also

i was told there torque to yeild fastners and are one time use. is this true then? i know this is probally stupid. ive used fe bolts over and over with no problems but those are big bolts.

 

[Maryland Stang]

Ford says you can reuse them 3 times.

 

[wht87gt]

You can get a set of ARP head bolts from summit for 40 bucks, for that kind of money there's no sense in taking any chances.

 

[bentley429]

Just get studs.

 

[1987stangman]

i was told there torque to yeild fastners and are one time use. is this true then? i know this is probally stupid. ive used fe bolts over and over with no problems but those are big bolts.

Torque to yield bolts were used in older 5.0L engines (85-under, in some models). Shop book says you can re-use them but for piece of mind buy some ARP's.


BTW: I reused mine in a 5.0L Ranger build and it is still holding up, but it is up to you.

 

[63bird390]

well

thanks for all the replies im on a tight junk yard build budget but 40 bucks aint bad. so then could arp bolts be used at a later date when this engine eventually needs a rebuild?

 

[Maryland Stang]

Yes they can.

 

[Fast63]

thanks for all the replies im on a tight junk yard build budget but 40 bucks aint bad. so then could arp bolts be used at a later date when this engine eventually needs a rebuild?

ARP bolts will last through 100 engine rebuilds or more probably. This is not a place to skimp on the 40 bucks. I have reused head bolts before, and I will never do so again. I torqued a set of stock heads down once, reusing the factory head bolts (not even torque to yield ones), and 2 of them stretched after a couple of head cycles, while another one broke entirely. End result was a blown head gasket and another engine rebuild.

 

[65ShelbyClone]

I also recommend against getting a set of cheap grade 8 head bolts. Several years ago I tried Performance Automotive Warehouse's house brand set and two started stretching right before 60lbs and another broke completely. They had grade 8 hash marks on top, but were definitely not grade 8. I got some ARPs after that. The finish quality is heaps better and the threads are much cleaner/smoother.

That was one of those learning experiences which taught me that spending more on good parts in the short run is usually cheaper in the long run.

 

[LiquidGT]

I read that you can reuse the stock bolts three times also, but I went on and bought some ARP bolts anyway. ARP has good customer service too, I had one bolt with no threads in my set; so they sent me another one for free.