Hardware Store Grade 8 Head Bolts

Matts440 said

Remember the head bolts are stretch torqued since going in three steps to torque them down. Grade 8 bolts I believe are not made to stretch.

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To be clear, the Mopar SBM head bolts are not torque-to-yield bolts so they can be reused, though the can be stretched. They are not selected to stretch any more or less than any other grade 8 bolt with the same shank shape. Torquing in 3 steps has nothing to do with stretching the bolts but in getting even settling of the head onto the gasket.

These head bolts have specific shanks on them that are different from standard bolts; the super long one that goes through the oil passage through the head that feeds the rockers needs to be a specific diameter in that area of the shank to allow oil flow around it, so use the real head bolts, not store bought ones.

In this regard, the ARP head studs are .500" diameter in this area as opposed to the .420" of the standard or ARP head bolts, and so will effect oil flow to the heads to some degree. (It depends a lot on the other rocker oiling restrictions in the rocker system.)

OP, contact Whitepunkonnitro if you are OK with used ones.... he may be able to sell you some used ones that he has checked.