VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc 1932 new head bolts

As a general rule copper faced gasket needs retensioning but the composite gaskets dont. Another factor is if the head bolts go into a water jacket retensioning will break the seal at the threads and cause a leak, when retensioning these the bolt should be completely removed and fresh sealant used.
Tony

if you look up the number, they are grade 8 steel, just a different coating for a different application

Zinc-flake-coated steel screws are about five times as corrosion resistant as zinc yellow-chromate plated screws and have good resistance to salt water and acids. Also known as ultra coat and armor coat. To maintain corrosion resistance, use these screws with zinc-flake-coated nuts and washers.

Part16john

are you looking for some close to original bolts for the head ?? same length, same head, etc ??
if my memory serves me the original are NOT grade 5 or 8, grading bolts came around in the late 60's

considering we only torque them down to Cylinder Head Bolt OLD: 55 to 65 ft-lb, Cylinder Head Bolt NEW: 65 to 75 ft-lb

Call Alma Bolt Company out in Michigan [https://www.almabolt.com/] they can make you the bolt you want or tell you what they have in stock that is really really close :) and pretty reasonable pricing. we use them for custom bolting, and i talked to them when i was doing my 1929 head, and they had great info and lead times.

original head bolt height was .386 they have a Gr9 that is .375, Gr8 .320

Hey Jerry, I’m really just looking for something that will work.

understood...

I would take the plain steel bolts you bought from McM and put them in the head and see how much sticks out hte other side. Measure the protrusion, and minus 1/16 to 1/8 for gasket crush thickness. as long as you are close to 3/4" i would not blink and eye. I would install and use. all you need is to secure the head to the block and crush the gasket to seal it up :) if they are short then get some 4 1/4" long ones (see below)

the original bolts were not graded, and the bolts of today are far superior.

A Grade 5 bolt has a Tensile Strength: 120,000 psi minimum, so you are more likely to strip/ rip the threads out of the cast iron block BEFORE you destroy the bolt. you are only tightening to 70-75 ft lb !!

Make sure you tighten the head bolts per the sequence in the manual, i did mine in 3 steps. 35, 55, 70 !! each one in order then next torque

4 1/4" long plain grade 5 bolts https://www.fastenal.com/product/details/12220
4 1/4" long yellow zinc grade 8 bolts https://www.fastenal.com/product/details/15220 (most grade 8 are yellow zinc, typically makes them easy to id, plus the head marking)