Source for new head bolts (4.2 => 4.0 head)

[ioneater]

Anybody know of a source for a 1/2 head bolt kit besides MOPAR? They quoted me 160+ for the set and recommended I try somewhere else like Summit. Summit was a bust and a search here shows a lot of dead links. Will try Clifford this Monday. Anyone else out there? Thanks.

[cueball]

what size head bolts do you need? 7/16 or 1/2"?

i have a set of 1/2" from an 88 4.2L..

these are not stretch bolts, so it is safe to re-use them.

let me know if interested and make an offer.

[ioneater]

Cueball, not sure if what you have is any better than what I've got already. I'm attempting to prep for the head swap and was hoping to replace the head bolts with brand new ones which should be 1/2 inch since it's a '90. The MOPAR guys said they'd reuse them or try some other supplier before paying their own price! $162.00 if I remember right. I take it yours have already been used? I don't have my jeep available to work on yet but will in about 2 1/2 weeks when I travel to its stored location. If yours are new I am definitely interested. What do you mean by stretch bolts? Are there different types of head bolts available?

Greg

[cueball]

no, mine are not new. but they are in good shape. all that would need to be done is a tap run down them to clean the gunk out of the threads.

stretch bolts are bolts that physically stretch when torqued down. they cannot be reused. you are okay though because your YJ doesnt use them (other cars do).

if yours are fine, just reuse them.. if they are damaged, then mine are available.

i went through the same thing last year when i rebuilt the head on my jeep (before ending up getting the whole engine rebuilt). i didnt want to pay for those bolts and i am glad i didnt have to.

[ioneater]

Ok, I'm a smarter man thanks to you. I appreciate your info and offer and hopefully won't have to take you up on it smile.gif On your rebuild, did you find something scary after pulling the head or just decided to go all the way through the engine? I'm remaining optimistic about mine as it ran good when I put it away 4 years ago. God only knows what shape it's really going to be in but the storage area was good...dry ,mouse free and indoors.

[cueball]

Mine was a $500 special.. it was a 4.2L manual that i picked up either to part out or rebuild (i had a 2.5L 87).. it was blowing smoke and it was always thought to be a bad piston ring, but i chose to have the head rebuilt-just in case that solved the problem. it didnt, so i had the entire thing rebuilt. it was a good thing that i did too, because all of the parts inside were screaming for help.

so now, my $500 special has about $3000 into it.. but since i parted out my 2.5L, it comes out to almost being a free upgrade!