has anyone use header bolts by spectre it has a hex head and you can use a alan key. are they any good also there gold iridite plated will this plateing hold up to heat thanks

I'd have a lot more faith in ARP (even though they don't have that exact product.)
Spectre appear to be a cheapie brand. Where are those bolts made?

I like the concept of an expanding bolt (ProForm) better than a lock washer (even Mr. Gasket s mondo cool HD washers), but not as well as the hex keyed washer retained by an E-clip (Stage 8). Because ARP did not originate either idea and the process is patented (you can not patent an idea) it will be a while before ARP offers a similar product.

A word of caution on using stainless steel bolts with aluminum heads that do not have a stainless steel Heli-Coil insert; it will suffer a galvanic seizure if they do not vibrate out before hand. ARP does offer safety wire capable exhaust bolts (Mil Spec) which is the old school way of doing it (and used by NASCAR).

A lot of the problems people have with exhaust bolts in the first place is from dissimilar metals and the results compounded by heat cycling the headers over time. When you torque a bolt to spec and it heats up all is good if the bolt s steel and the head is cast iron as the metals expand at a similar rate. Because aluminum expands at a faster rate than steel or stainless steel (for those who like bright shinny objects in their engine compartment); a steel bolt is going to be finger tight after three or four cycles of heating up and cooling down because the aluminum is growing faster than the steel bolt, so the hole it is screwed into gets bigger, and it vibrates out.

You can buy aluminum bolts that are grade five (same quality as the steel bolt) from aviation supply houses, but they are pricey. Not only are they unusual in appearance (for those who worry about bright shinny objects in their engine bays) but they expand at the same rate as the head so they will not fall out or seize up from galvanic action.


Larger Dave