360 head bolts

[rockjeep]

what are you all doing about installing your head bolts on your 360. I'm using studs and the arp nuts and we can't get socket on them. we ground a socket down, but it cracked.
thanks
bobby

[tufcj]

I haven't used studs, since the outside ones won't clear the exhaust manifold or headers. Which nuts are you having trouble with? The ones between the valves are the only ones I could see a problem with. If you have the correct stud kit, the nuts should be small enough to get a socket on.

Bob
tufcj

[1980_Cj7]

Even if you use the ARP bolts, there is an exhaust manifold clearance problem on at least one of them. On my engine, it was one of the lower middle ones on the driver's side.

The heads on the ARP bolts are a lot bigger/higher than the stock bolts. I just used a stock bolt instead of the ARP for the one that was hitting the exhaust manifold.