Ask Away! with Jeff Smith: Proper Rocker Arm Torque & Tightening
I just discovered a rocker arm on my small block that loosened up and popped off the stud. It kinda mangled the threads on the stud, so I’m going to […]
The Right Way to Install Your Engine Fasteners: Understanding Friction, Bolt Stretch & Clamp Load
Your vehicle’s engine bay is a high-stress environment, with a lot of heat, vibration, and other cyclic loading forces that increase as you add horsepower. That’s why you want to […]
Ask Away with Jeff Smith: How to Prevent Engine Bolts from Rusting and Galling
I was helping my buddy remove the heads from his truck this last weekend. We ran into a problem where two of the collector bolts on the passenger side header […]
How to Fix a Stripped Head Bolt (Ask Away with Jeff Smith)
I finally collected all the parts to assemble my small-block Chevy 350 but when I torqued the head bolts, one of the holes stripped. I’ve heard there’s a way to […]
Video: Cylinder Head Bolts vs. Cylinder Head Studs
Learn the basic differences between cylinder head bolts and cylinder head studs and how to decide which is better for your vehicle by watching this Summit Racing Quick Flicks video. […]
How to Diagnose Common Fastener Failures
Your metal automotive fasteners can fail one of six ways. And, according to our friends ARP—an industry leader in fastener technology—each type of metallurgical failure has a unique, identifiable characteristic. […]
Fastener Tech: The “Friction Factor” and Why It Matters
When it comes to properly tightening automotive fasteners, there are several methods you can use. The most accurate way is to use a stretch gauge to measure the overall stretch […]