OEM Headbolts no ETA, people still using Metric Blue bolts?

[Zambuzan]

I was having this same problem. I ended up with a set of VR bolts, and checked them all against a straight edge. All seemed fine. I dipped my finger in some 30w oil and rubbed the bolts and installed them. Everything seemed fine. 22lB's, then 90, then 90.

I got the bolts just last week, and installed them yesterday. But as others have said, based on stock and whatnot, who knows when or where my bolts were made compared to a set you might get.

Thank you, this is reassuring! I receive my bolts later today, hopefully everything checks out...

Just to verify, you lightly grease the threads and the washers right? Any oil would work, as long as its a bit thick?

[shawmcbigdis]

Thank you, this is reassuring! I receive my bolts later today, hopefully everything checks out...

Just to verify, you lightly grease the threads and the washers right? Any oil would work, as long as its a bit thick?

As for the oil, I don't know if that's really what you are supposed to do. I saw it mentioned on several threads about head bolts, so I just did it. I actually used 0-30 Mobile1 because thats what I have the most of in the garage, I would not call that thick oil by any means. I don't know for sure if that is the actually factory approved procedure or not though. And I only put the oil on the bolts, not the washers.

[mike87]

For what it's worth: I just bought a set of victor reinz head bolts last week, and 4 out of the 14 bolts were bent to oblivion (have pics and videos). The retailer was kind enough to send me another set and I'm going to piece together 14 unbent bolts from the 2 sets.

[Zambuzan]

For what it's worth: I just bought a set of victor reinz head bolts last week, and 4 out of the 14 bolts were bent to oblivion (have pics and videos). The retailer was kind enough to send me another set and I'm going to piece together 14 unbent bolts from the 2 sets.

How specifically did you find out that they're bent?

[mike87]

How specifically did you find out that they're bent?

Roll it on a flat clean/white surface with a light in the background and see if there is any wobble.

Either that or you can use a straightedge along the length of the bolt on various sides to check for distortion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioyO_DmkMR8&t=95s

[note this isn't my video, but same procedure]

Hope this helps!

[Zambuzan]

[Zambuzan]

The retailer was kind enough to send me another set and I'm going to piece together 14 unbent bolts from the 2 sets.

Just received my bolts, half are unmistakably bent. Checked against a few straight edges, and tried rolling them on a flat surface to see how they would react. Needless to say, I'm heated.

What did you tell your retailer?

[mike87]

Just received my bolts, half are unmistakably bent. Checked against a few straight edges, and tried rolling them on a flat surface to see how they would react. Needless to say, I'm heated.

What did you tell your retailer?

A very little amount of bend shouldn't be too much of a problem since the bolt straightens out after tightening because it's a torque-to-yield application.

What you need to worry about are the belt-to-hell bolts that don't even thread down without giving a lot of resistance when using a hand ratchet.

Non-boosted applications and regular head gaskets are forgiving, I wouldn't use regular head bolts or anything other than ARP studs on an MLS gasket or turbo setup.

I basically sent a video and some photos of the bent victor reinz bolts to my retailer and they remedied the situation immediately without question. YMMV

[bmwman91]

I agree with mike87. If you can get them to start seating with just the socket+extension and your hands (no ratchet) or maybe just the slightest help from the ratchet, then they are probably OK on an OEM application.

[ForcedFirebird]

^^^yup. They are stretch bolts, and they are probably thread rolled which can distort a soft material. Again, I have used countless sets without issue - even the 200+whp builds we have done are using VR, just out of convenience. My local supplier delivers them in an hour, even though they cost more than OEM, they are always available.