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Valve cover bolt question.

1043 Views 3 Replies 2 Participants Last post by  Jsup
Putting new steel valve covers on my big block 502. It's hard to find chevy valve cover bolts locally. I went and picked up some grade-8 bolts from the local hardware store. It has the correct thread count.

Does the bolts for the valve covers have to be heat treated? Will the grader-8 bolts work?

How much should I torque down the valve covers. Im using steel valve covers with felpro rubber gasket.
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rajsid said:
Putting new steel valve covers on my big block 502. It's hard to find chevy valve cover bolts locally. I went and picked up some grade-8 bolts from the local hardware store. It has the correct thread count.

Does the bolts for the valve covers have to be heat treated? Will the grader-8 bolts work?

How much should I torque down the valve covers. Im using steel valve covers with felpro rubber gasket.
OK, please double check, but I'll throw this out there.....

1. the screws should be 1/4-20

2. Grade 8 not a problem, not needed, just not a problem

3. Hand tight and one revolution of the screw should do it.
Jsup said:
OK, please double check, but I'll throw this out there.....

1. the screws should be 1/4-20

2. Grade 8 not a problem, not needed, just not a problem

3. Hand tight and one revolution of the screw should do it.
Thanks for responding..
I did get 1/4-29 size bolts.
Again, does it have to be heat treated bolts?
rajsid said:
Thanks for responding..
I did get 1/4-29 size bolts.
Again, does it have to be heat treated bolts?
No. Grades reflect sheer strength. Plain old bolts are fine.
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