Stainless Bolts ?
 

Anyone ever use Stainless bolts for Exhaust Manifolds ? My shop seems to think that stainless is not strong enough ..

Re: Stainless Bolts ?
 

I used them on the SBC I built for the Donzi. I don't think they are as strong as a good grade eight bolt, but they are strong enough to hold the torque required for mine anyway. I replaced every single fastener I could with stainless, except the head bolts.

Re: Stainless Bolts ?
 

I'm using them on Gils, work fine.

Re: Stainless Bolts ?
 

I used them as well ..no problems. No rust.. :rolleyes:

Re: Stainless Bolts ?
 

I've been told that they don't hold the torque as well. Having said that I think you're probably o.k. Just recheck the torque down the road to be sure.

Re: Stainless Bolts ?
 

There are some threads on here that talk in detail about this--there was mention of some special grade of stainless that should be used especailly on exhaut manifolds. I seem to remember talking to Keith Eikert (sp?) about it and they sell them along with a few specialty fastner suppliers. Use the search engine on OSO and you will find tons of data about this--

Poorsche

www.boatmat.com

Re: Stainless Bolts ?
 

I know that an ARP stainless bolt will be more than strong enough. You'd have to be very ham fisted to break one. The regular hardware store stuff is actually around a grade 2 bolt. Not very good stuff.

Re: Stainless Bolts ?
 

I used ARP Stainless bolts on headers. No problems. Most headers require use of a reduced head bolt and ARP's fill the bill. You will never snap off an ARP bolt.

Re: Stainless Bolts ?
 

Stainless is not stainless.

Hardware store stainless is indeed a softer grade than you would want for exhaust manifolds.

Re: Stainless Bolts ?
 

Also, it's my opinion that a non stainless grade eight bolt doesn't rust as easily as other non stainless.

Re: Stainless Bolts ?
 

Yes get the arp. I use the12 pt .

Re: Stainless Bolts ?
 

They'll surface rust just as easy as anything.
They usually come, though, with a black oxide surface treatment followed by an oil spray. This definitely gives them a leg up on the rust issue.

and when they DO rust, they still remain pretty strong.

Re: Stainless Bolts ?
 

ARP!

http://www.arp-bolts.com/

D. Ocean
Pompano Beach, FLA

Re: Stainless Bolts ?
 

Stainless really galls aluminum, be careful

Re: Stainless Bolts ?
 

Use an anti-seize lubricant (silver stuff) and recheck torque after the first few outings.

Re: Stainless Bolts ?
 

The stock Merc bolts are 8.85 and 5.55 each ..... ARP stainless are 3.69 and 2.95 ..... unbelievable .....we're talkin 32 bolts for 2 motors ..