Dave@Moon Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 I'm looking for a set of exhaust manifold bolts fro a 1960 368 engine. All I've been able to find so far are sets that fit the 401-425 motor (with no near designated). Does anyone know if those bolts are the same? If not is there a source or size I should look for instead? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted October 6, 2016 Author Share Posted October 6, 2016 Of course I meant a 364 cubic in. engine, not 368. Sorry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 This doesn't show the actual bolts but I would assume if the heads and exhaust manifolds interchange then the bolts would also? The parts in this picture will interchange on 364-401-425 The parts in this pic do not interchange 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 These are pictures that I took of the exhaust manifolds that I took off of my '64 Riviera 425. Apparently they'd never been off previously or if they had been removed, they were reinstalled with the French locks. You can see that there are only two bolts that are longer that the others. These two go through a double thickness of the manifold on the outer bolt holes of the two rear cylinders. They had individual locks on them rather than the hoop locks. The bolts are a standard thread and standard length. I put a set on a different engine (sans the locks) using grade 5 hardware store bolts and they seemed to work just fine. The "looks" of the bolt heads were a little different but they were the same sized heads and threads as the OE ones. You'll notice that there were no gaskets between the manifolds and the heads. Hope this helps. Ed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted October 7, 2016 Author Share Posted October 7, 2016 Thanks! The only set specifically for the Nailhead that I can find is this one: https://alloyboltz.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1176 , which are somehow both stainless and Grade 8. I notice that they are all the same size as well. We will need new bolts for this engine. Is there a source that sells a kit, or do we have to buy them individually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Alloyboltz sells the entire kit but they're all $tainless. TA performance sells different kits for the nailhead. I was looking at their head bolt kit and it shows only two sizes of bolts. (You'll need one bolt about a 1/4" or so longer to mount the alternator bracket.) ARP sells a kit as well but it's a stud kit, not a bolt kit. Just start Googling till you find what you're looking for. A lot on eBay but I didn't look at any for details. Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 I just talked with Tim at TA Performance about their head bolt kit. They DO NOT have the longer bolt, nor do the have the bolts with the stud on top for mounting certain accessory brackets. In out conversation, Tim told me "ARP can't make those bolts for us." So, we now know that TA is a distributor of head bolts. They have "exhaust header" bolts but nothing for "exhaust manifolds." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 (edited) Hi Dave- are you still in Cincinnati? I've got 401 bolts you could see if they are the right stuff for the ealier engines. Sunday we have the Spring Grove Cemetary Cruise In- I will have several Buicks there as the Cemetery is my "neighbor" to garage. C'mon down to the best show in town Also if you are looking for head bolts - I have a LOT of spare originals the would serve. Your first post did not indicate you were looking for anything but EMB's. Stainless and grade 8, now that's a deal! Edited October 7, 2016 by Wildcat65 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUICK RACER Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 Also look at Totally Stainless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 I talked with Tim at TA Performance about their head bolt kit. They DO NOT have the longer head bolt that goes through the alternator bracket , nor do the have the bolts with the stud on top for mounting certain accessory brackets. In our conversation, Tim told me "ARP can't make those bolts for us." So, we now know that TA is a distributor of head bolts. They have "exhaust header" bolts but nothing for "exhaust manifolds." Header flanges are usually only about a 1/4" thick. In my 1963 Chassis manual (and I'm betting it's the same for all nailheads) under "Engine Tightening Specifications," the exhaust manifold calls for a 3/8-16 thread bolt tightened to 10 - 15 Ft. lbs. If you're picking them up at a hardware store you can judge the length you need. Head bolts are 7/16-14. If those are the same size as one of the more popular engines then you could probably get them by ordering for it. BUT you still won't get the ones with the studs on the tops. Best bet is to probably take Ted up on his offer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted October 10, 2016 Author Share Posted October 10, 2016 Thanks to all! It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that I'll be buying these individually. I do still live in Cincinnati. I'm now the Parts Manager for a large restoration garage ( Benhase Restorations, http://www.benhasecarrestorations.com/ ). The car is one of our customer's, here for a restoration estimate. A 1960 LeSabre white convertible with red interior, it has an export engine just like my old white hardtop with grey interior that I sold in 2008. Deja Vu doesn't get much stronger! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Probably off topic a tad, but what is an export engine? Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dawn Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 I picked some up from alloyboltz about seven months ago to put a 401 in my 56. I had to get different years' exhaust manifolds to fit around the frame and steering box. They were not all the same size and they worked great. Yes they were stainless and Grade 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted October 12, 2016 Author Share Posted October 12, 2016 On 10/10/2016 at 8:38 PM, First Born said: Probably off topic a tad, but what is an export engine? Ben In 1960 they offered a low-compression (9:1) 364 with thicker head gaskets and a Stromberg WW2 carb. It was standard with a manual, but an option with the Twin Turbine. As an option I think it was called the 375E motor, but I heard it more commonly called the "export engine" because overseas fuels frequently didn't have the octane to support 10.5:1 compression in 1960 and therefore that's what was sold for export order. I went to 4 Nationals and the Flint 100th Anniversary Meet and only ever saw 2 other cars with this engine, one at a local show. I loved it. It performed more than adequately, and still got as much a 17 mpg on regular gas without pinging. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 Thanks, Dave Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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