Replacing head bolts?

[And-Con]

OK I'm in the process of reassembling an omc 115; Many of the bolts are rather gunked up and i would like to replace them with new. I've been told many of the bolts are just grade 8's which i can get locally a lot cheaper and easier than ordering from brp.
The problem is that i would like to change out the head bolts but brp wants $5.00 a hit and with 20 bolts... well thats enough money to put gas in her for a day. So is there a cheaper equivalent that i can use, or should i shell out the money for proper parts.
Also, 5 got torn up beyond use, so i could just buy 5 new ones and reuse the 15 remaining, which $25 I'll get over, but if I'm replacing 5 why not just do them all, and the dilemma repeats itself.
Thank you for any potential advice and sorry for trying to cheap out.

 

[BigB9000]

Re: Replacing head bolts?

use a dye to clean the threads maybe? I sand blasted my hardware, no problems yet.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Replacing head bolts?

Use a wire wheel ... takes just a minute or two per bolt. I don't think they're GR8, but most likely SS.

 

[daselbee]

Re: Replacing head bolts?

what year, what length...
I have head bolts out my ***, and will be glad to give you some...

Just have to be sure they are the right length.

PM me if you want. I am in Titusville.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: Replacing head bolts?

If the bolts are that bad I would really be conserned about the block.Be sure to clean them out with a thread chaser as the corrosion in the holes will affect your torque readings.

 

[F_R]

Re: Replacing head bolts?

OK I'm in the process of reassembling an omc 115; Many of the bolts are rather gunked up and i would like to replace them with new. I've been told many of the bolts are just grade 8's which i can get locally a lot cheaper and easier than ordering from brp.
The problem is that i would like to change out the head bolts but brp wants $5.00 a hit and with 20 bolts... well thats enough money to put gas in her for a day. So is there a cheaper equivalent that i can use, or should i shell out the money for proper parts.
Also, 5 got torn up beyond use, so i could just buy 5 new ones and reuse the 15 remaining, which $25 I'll get over, but if I'm replacing 5 why not just do them all, and the dilemma repeats itself.
Thank you for any potential advice and sorry for trying to cheap out.

I doubt they are grade 8, probably grade 5. But the 8's will be ok, just overkill. OK, here's the skinny on the deal. Not knowing what size they are, let me say that OMC loved to use odd-ball size bolts, like 2-3/16" long for instance. Also, they loved to use bolts with odd-ball length unthreaded portion of the shank. So, knowing those beware-ofs, take one of your bolts to the store with you and compare with what they have. If the length is good (you CAN cut them off, y'know) and the unthreaded portion isn't too long, go for it. Just avoid the ungraded el-cheapo ones. And no, you don't have to replace all of them. Finally, don't use stainless.

 

[And-Con]

Re: Replacing head bolts?

Much appreciated for the fast replies; the full story on the engine could be useful; i bought the boat knowing the engine needed a rebuild, so i started tearing the old engine down and it was horrible-abused 15 year old salt water engine. So i went on craigslist and bought a replacement "block". The replacement had everything just lacking carbs and fasteners, despite being a Florida engine it looked clean enough to have been freshwater only-or at least religiously flushed. So i slapped in some grade 8's torqued them down and am hoping to get the engine reinstalled this weekend. i tend to be a little optimistic with my time lines though. Thanks