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  1. #1
    Member Sunset T/A's Avatar
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    Sunset Orange
    2002 TransAm

    Header Bolt Question?

    Had headers installed last year with regular bolts. Would like to change to Stage 8 Locking Bolts. If I change them one at a time, would I develop an exhaust leak. Slim possibility or Good possibility of a leak?

  2. #2
    Life in the Fast lane sunsetorangess's Avatar
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    Met. Sunset Orange
    01 SS

    Slim, Which gaskets did you use? If you used the metal gaskets or anything but paper, i wouldnt worry about it and just break them all loose then back them out, one at a time and ensure you take your time putting them back in and dont cross thread any. Also pick up some Anti-seize to put on the new bolts.
    J
    2001 SS, Its not the car its the Driver that matters....

  3. #3
    2 SS's are better than 1 Jays00ss's Avatar
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    NBM / Silver
    00 SS / 71 SS Elcamino

    No you will be ok. One at a time you'll have no problem
    2000 SS Camaro Heads, Large cam, Fast 90, 9"w/430's and locker, yada yada yada... you get the picture

    1971 SS ElCamino 402 Big Block 550HP

    2006 Silverado 2500HD 496 cubic inches of pure muscle

  4. #4
    Junior Member
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    Black
    2002 Camaro Z-28

    Quote Originally Posted by sunsetta View Post
    Had headers installed last year with regular bolts. Would like to change to Stage 8 Locking Bolts. If I change them one at a time, would I develop an exhaust leak. Slim possibility or Good possibility of a leak?
    Save your money on the Stage 8 Locking bolts..... header bolts loosen becuase they stretch over time, not b/c they rotate themselves loose. All the fancy locking mechanisms or lock wire will not prevent header bolt loosening. Just retorque periodically and bolts should reach their maximum stretch after ~5-10K miles. Get a good set of gaskets to boot or you will end up with leaks that could dagerously lean out your engine from improper O2 readings. Recommend tightening 10 mins, 100 miles, 1000 miles, 3000 miles, 6000 miles, and at 9000 miles. If you want good bolts buy ARP and apply a small amount of antiseize.
    K&N FIPK, Skip Shift Eliminator, SLP Shock Tower Brace, UMI 3 Pnts, Corsa Catback, Goodridge SS Brake Lines, more to come.

  5. #5
    Member Sunset T/A's Avatar
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    Sunset Orange
    2002 TransAm

    I use stock GM gaskets (new).
    2002 Sunset Orange TransAm 6 spd.
    http://www.mustangmods.com/data/1327/dadsigpic2.jpg

  6. #6
    Slow'er'Ass Mr. Luos's Avatar
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    Red Tint Jewelcoat
    2008 Trailblazer SS

    I still have my stock header bolts on my car.
    Just double check the torque on them once in a while with a little loctite.
    2008 Trailblazer SS
    Yank PTB3600, Kooks 1 7/8" LT's, 4" intake, E-fans, Magnaflow, Sonnax kit, tranny cooler, tune.
    Lowered, HID's, tinted.

    1999 Pontiac Trans Am WS.6 #1747 SOLD
    531.1 RWHP 481.3 FT/Pounds all motor.

  7. #7
    Member hoss 2000 z-28's Avatar
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    Monterey Maroon Metalic
    2000 Z28

    I used new GM gaskets and new header bolts with Loctite a year ago and have had no leaks or other issues.

  8. #8
    Member raysz28's Avatar
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    Ticket Red
    M6 1998 Z-28

    so i am ready to install the Pacesetter Lts, but i want to know if i should reuse the stock bolts, use the black oxide bolts that came with the headers or buy the stage 8 locking bolts?
    also can i use the factory metal gaskets along with the new ones?

    98 Ticket Red Z28
    Mods:
    Front/rear sway bars, poly bushings all around, Bilstein Shocks, Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch, Pacesetter LT's, 2.5" Custom True Duals over the axle with Magnaflow mufflers, Shortened Pro 5.0 shifter, TurnOne PS pump.

  9. #9
    Veteran Firebirdjones's Avatar
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    I found something interesting just recently with pacesetters.

    I installed them on my 02 camaro with no problems.

    I then installed a set on my wifes 2000 and the header bolts bottomed out in the heads before it completely torqued the header down, using the supplied bolts from pacesetter.

    Didn't have this problem on the 02. I chucked this up to different style heads. Since the 02 has 241's and my wifes car has 853's,,,I can only assume GM didn't tap the holes as deep.
    But I ended up cutting 1/4 inch from all the supplied bolts on this car to make them work.

    With that said you might want to look real close at whether you use the supplied bolts, factory bolts, or something else aftermarket.

    My memory is fuzzy on the factory manifolds since I've packed mine away with the bolts. But aren't the factory manifolds rather thick requiring a slightly longer bolt,,,where as the header flanges on pacesetters are thinner. Therefore trying to use the original bolts may also cause a bottom out issue??? Don't know on that one, just throwing it out there.

  10. #10
    Veteran Firebirdjones's Avatar
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    Oh and on the gasket issue,,,,,

    Just reuse the factory metal gaskets that come off the car and throw the supplied paper gaskets from pacesetter in the trash.

    If it makes you feel better you could stop in at GM and pickup a new set of metal gaskets,,but it's really not necessary.

  11. #11
    Member raysz28's Avatar
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    Ticket Red
    M6 1998 Z-28

    Thanks, i'll check the depth of the holes in the stock heads.
    Did you use locktight or antisiese on the bolts?

  12. #12
    Veteran Firebirdjones's Avatar
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    Just antisiese.

  13. #13
    Member raysz28's Avatar
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    Ticket Red
    M6 1998 Z-28

    headers went in fine with factory bolts. the drivers side was the hardest for me. we actually had to remove the engine mount bracket and raise the engine to put the header in place. it was a lot of juggling... but its all done now and it looks great!

  14. #14
    Senior Member grouch0jr's Avatar
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    Black
    2001 Firebird TransAm WS6

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Luos View Post
    I still have my stock header bolts on my car.
    Just double check the torque on them once in a while with a little loctite.
    what should they be torqued to?

  15. #15
    Member raysz28's Avatar
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    Ticket Red
    M6 1998 Z-28

    its a two step torque sequence. 11ft-lbs then 18ft-lbs.

  16. #16
    Veteran Firebirdjones's Avatar
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    Or you can give it 2 grunts like I do I couldn't even get the mini torque wrench on half of those bolts so I passed on that.

  17. #17
    Member raysz28's Avatar
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    Ticket Red
    M6 1998 Z-28

    Yeah, i torqued the ones i could... about half... the others i guessed as close as i could with my calibrated elbow :-) lol

  18. #18
    MANWHORE TEAM suede's Avatar
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    Negro
    2000 Trans Am WS.6

    original question..... you wont have a leak... just do it one at a time

    GM metal gaskets are gonna be best, I even got new ones when i did mine... no leaks with 35k miles on them

    ANTISEIZE that shit

    don't overtorqe them and strip one.....

    I did put locking stage 8's on, and yes they will prevent them from turning back out, no they arent needed but i guess its piece of mind for me..

  19. #19
    MANWHORE TEAM suede's Avatar
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    Negro
    2000 Trans Am WS.6

    original question..... you wont have a leak... just do it one at a time

    GM metal gaskets are gonna be best, I even got new ones when i did mine... no leaks with 35k miles on them

    ANTISEIZE that shit

    don't overtorqe them and strip one.....

    I did put locking stage 8's on, and yes they will prevent them from turning back out, no they arent needed but i guess its piece of mind for me..

  20. #20
    Veteran Firebirdjones's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by raysz28 View Post
    Yeah, i torqued the ones i could... about half... the others i guessed as close as i could with my calibrated elbow :-) lol
    Ya thats about all you can do.

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