Technical Header Bolt Hodge Podge

Just be sure to tighten the bolts a few times after a little use, and again at oil changes or something, until they don't loosen any more.

The back ones are where you need a full 90 on the wrench...btdt.

 

Lots of different methods shown on this post to get header bolts tight and keep them tight.
Just want to offer just one caution note about allen socket head bolts and ball end allen wrenches: Have seen lots of people use that ball end and put a "cheater" on the short end, either to remove or tighten allen socket bolts and you run a risk to snap off the ball and then you have that hardened ball stuck in the hex socket and if it's stuck, you got a real problem.

 

https://www.proformparts.com/locking-bolts

I bought these...hoping that in conjunction with expensive gaskets I don’t have to touch headers again for a long time..

 

There are many ways to keep screws tight....

 

^^^ They worked great for me....
I like to check them from time to time and using these allow me to easily get a small box end wrench on them. Using bolts with larger heads entailed a bigger wrench and made snugging some some of them up a big chore.

 

Just run cast iron manifolds, no problems with the bolts.

 

Some supplier had a header bolt with a set screw in the center that when tightened expanded the slotted bolt end. I imagined a nightmare to remove if the set screw rusted or the hex stripped so I never got any.