head bolt question...
 

well guys, ive decided to go with the iron GT-40 heads. they have 1/2" bolt holes so thats where my problem starts.
i am trying to get a straight answer on what head bolts i should use. everything from inserts to ARP's stepped bolts, to a hardened 1/2" washer and standard head bolts.......

i called ford racing and a tech advised me to get a bolt kit for a 95 mustang and thats all i need. he said they have a wide head to take up the slack in the bolt hole. so i ordered them from the dealer (havent gotten them yet). he also said that they are torque to yield bolts and "thats all they recomend". he also told me that they are much stronger than a stock replacement and can be re-used.

did i do the right thing?

are torque to yield bolts junk (what i heard after i ordered them)???

i dont ever plan on taking this engine apart ever again (heads at least). will they last???

thanks for any response.
adam

My understanding is that torque to yield bolts are good for only one use. If you never remove the heads, I doubt that it will matter. I wonder how one would measure the bolt stretch though.

Rev

I had the same problem with my Edelbrocks, I guess most of the aftermarket heads have the 1/2" head bolt holes so they can fit 351 heads as well as the 302's. I put the ARP 7/16 head bolts with the trick flow inserts on. The inserts were like $25 from Summit. As far as the toquing thing goes, I heard the stock bolts are only good for one use and you have to replace them if you ever remove the heads, while the ARP sets can be used like three times without a problem. There's a whole science thing involved with the bolt stretch and proper measurement of torque that i don't understand. I just use a torque wrench and follow the suggested procedures and hope it all works as planned. Anyway the inserts worked well for me, you should be fine which ever way you go.

The Ford tech you spoke with contradicted himself, which would concern me. Rev is correct. Torque to yield bolts can NOT be reused. The proper bolt kit from Ford Racing is #C289. Make sure that is what you get.

Take care,
-Chris

thanks guys,
its really wierd, it wasnt just one tech that told me this. it was 3!!

i dont ever plan on taking the engine apart again after this so i guess the re-use thing doesnt matter. so as long as the bolts that i already ordered work, ill just use them.

thanks a lot guys,
adam