Are ARP bolts a rip off? Or worth the money?

[ls1gino]

Currently doing an Auto conversion with my 383 build (VY SS) and have purchased a TCI flex plate with some ARP torque convertor bolts ($12 bucks).
Its a dominator convertor but bolts are the size is the same as factory (M10 x 1.5).
When i got the flex plate i realised that is has thicker sections welded on where the bolts go threw so the convertor and this made the ARP bolts to short.
So i went to a bolt shop and got three bolts the correct length for $1 and was told they were just as good as the ARP bolts...
Are ARP bolts really worth 10 times the price!?! or should i just get all my bolts from a bolt shop?

[seedyrom]

Dunno. I once bought the specified ones from Holden and they were $11 each.
10.9 grade machine bolts.
So at that price, I reckon ARP are worth the money.
$1 bolts sound too good to be true? Were they the right grade? I suppose, it doesn't matter ... It's a Holden. 'Straya ****

[John_LS1]

you get new longer converter bolts with the TCI Flexplate unless you bought it second hand. Also if you wanted longer ARP bolts to suit you would have to get a generic packet in the right size as they don't make a specific kit for aftermarket LS Flexplates.

[ls1gino]

Dunno. I once bought the specified ones from Holden and they were $11 each.
10.9 grade machine bolts.
So at that price, I reckon ARP are worth the money.
$1 bolts sound too good to be true? Were they the right grade? I suppose, it doesn't matter ... It's a Holden. 'Straya ****

haha
$11!!! wow thats crazy! yep 1 buck for all 3, 10.9 grade bolts as well, was printed on the top

[ls1gino]

you get new longer converter bolts with the TCI Flexplate unless you bought it second hand. Also if you wanted longer ARP bolts to suit you would have to get a generic packet in the right size as they don't make a specific kit for aftermarket LS Flexplates.

nope bought it brand new, and yes it did come with bolts both to bolt to the crank and the covertor but the 3 for the convertor were only going in 3 or so turns, no where near enough and we only slightly longer than the ARP ones... plus they were only 8.8 grade?!? (is that even strong enough?) which makes no sense at all because surely they would see there bolts only protrude a few mm from the flex plate.. unless im missing something obvious :S
ahh ok didnt even know they came in generic packs

[John_LS1]

I'll check mine tomorrow and see which ones I got. They were definitely long enough.

[ls1gino]

I'll check mine tomorrow and see which ones I got. They were definitely long enough.

ok cheers, mine were silver and had 8.8 on the top with no locktite on the bolt, 29mm total length and 19.8mm under head length..

[heavyduty1340]

Usually the bolts are black, not silvber - where were they manufactured? and what brand are they?

I wouldnt risk shit like this on motors - ARP are tried and tested fark me whats a few bucks for bolts ffs?

[peter b]

ARP also dont rate their bolts the same way and do not have 8.8 imprinted on the head of the bolt......

[ls2 cruiser]

I had to buy longer bolts to go between the tci flexplate and my billet ls to turbo 400 made up converter. i purchased grade 8 bolts that were long enough. The torque converter manufacturer supplied bolts that were too short. The bolts are 7/16" unf grade 8. They are strong enough. The tci flexplate is held to the crank by ARP bolts.

[the big fist]

Usually the bolts are black, not silvber - where were they manufactured? and what brand are they?

I wouldnt risk shit like this on motors - ARP are tried and tested fark me whats a few bucks for bolts ffs?

probably zinc plated.

8.8 = 800 N/mm^2 tensile strength

[ls1gino]

Usually the bolts are black, not silvber - where were they manufactured? and what brand are they?

I wouldnt risk shit like this on motors - ARP are tried and tested fark me whats a few bucks for bolts ffs?


Im not sure the bolts came with the flex plate.. and yes i agree i have ARP bolts for almost everything on my engine.. even ARP 12 pnt stainless steel intake manifold bolts :headbang:

[ls1gino]

I had to buy longer bolts to go between the tci flexplate and my billet ls to turbo 400 made up converter. i purchased grade 8 bolts that were long enough. The torque converter manufacturer supplied bolts that were too short. The bolts are 7/16" unf grade 8. They are strong enough. The tci flexplate is held to the crank by ARP bolts.

thanks! it would seem no convertor manufacturer or TCI themselves are taking into account the thicker sections on aftermarket flex plates.. no big deal just thought it was odd they would supply incorrect length bolts with it haha
ill put a pic up later in case anyone wants to see

[John_LS1]

i had a look at my ones and they are 10.9 grade silver bolts (prob just a antirust coating) but to my surprise they actually don't screw into all the thread on my TCE converter. they are M10x20mm and have a 20mm head on them. they did go thru on my old allfast converter but it must have has a thinner plate where the bolt holes went.

the factory bolts are M10x15mm. I think i will use M12x30mm when i get a custom converter made for a T400 to LS1 as the TCI Flexplate has 12 mm holes in it already.

[peter b]

i had a look at my ones and they are 10.9 grade silver bolts (prob just a antirust coating) but to my surprise they actually don't screw into all the thread on my TCE converter. they are M10x20mm and have a 20mm head on them. they did go thru on my old allfast converter but it must have has a thinner plate where the bolt holes went.

the factory bolts are M10x15mm. I think i will use M12x30mm when i get a custom converter made for a T400 to LS1 as the TCI Flexplate has 12 mm holes in it already.

If the flex plate had 12 mm holes then an m12 bolt will be a very tight interference fit

[ls2 cruiser]

The length of my bolts from memory are 1 1/4" and they are 7/16" unf. They go through the very thich billet arms and come out the other side a bit. I only used 7/16" unf as the billet convertor comes that way. It is "ASNEW" brand. The TCI flexplate being US made would be AF size probably. For your info a grade 8 bolt has 6 dashes on the top. Grade 5 has 3 dashes.

[John_LS1]

If the flex plate had 12 mm holes then an m12 bolt will be a very tight interference fit

It's not exactly 12mm probably 12.5 I stuck a m12 bolt thru and it was fine. I don't have my verniers to measure it.

[peter b]

It's not exactly 12mm probably 12.5 I stuck a m12 bolt thru and it was fine. I don't have my verniers to measure it.

ahh ok thats fair then.

[ls1gino]

i had a look at my ones and they are 10.9 grade silver bolts (prob just a antirust coating) but to my surprise they actually don't screw into all the thread on my TCE converter. they are M10x20mm and have a 20mm head on them. they did go thru on my old allfast converter but it must have has a thinner plate where the bolt holes went.

the factory bolts are M10x15mm. I think i will use M12x30mm when i get a custom converter made for a T400 to LS1 as the TCI Flexplate has 12 mm holes in it already.


hmmmm weird.. we got different bolts with our plates too?? yeah that would be the best idea, i would have done the same if i didnt have my convertor already... and then this begs the question why have such big holes for only M10 bolts?!?! :weirdo: im assuming the little sections they weld on where the bolts go threw to the convertor are probably a generic peice, they just weld them onto every plate for any model, some factory convertors probably run m12 bolts..

[ls2 cruiser]

The TCI flexplate is a very strong and heavy flexplate that is used for drag racing and it usually matches up with Billet converters which can have bigger bolts. It does not matter though as the centre hole centres the flexplate and the bolts just hold it on to the converter.

[itsme4g63]

I found arp bolts to be very effective at every case compared to oem, mainly use their head studs/rod bolts/crank cradle bolts.