Thread: ARP flexbolts or Go to lowes?

Im getting ready to swap trannys and i have GM's newest flexplate with the holes drilled for the smaller torque converter.

I know that the flexplate bolts are TTY, and some people have gone to lowes and picked up some grade 8 bolts.

Im wondering has anyone done this and if so what thread pattern did you get?


Has anyone had any problems with ARP at all? Ive heard of some people having problems with them backing out after a few miles of being installed.

Regardless what bolts you use you should put blue loctite on them or you risk them backing out. Red loctite can be used too but is a little much and isnt necessary and can make taking the bolts back out a treat. New bolts from the dealer already have dry loctite on them and if you look at the original ones you took at they will have residue of this on them. I use stock bolts on everything and have never had a problem with them backing out and this is what trans shops do also and I guarantee they arent replacing them.

I've heard more trouble with ARP bolts than anything.

I'd recommend getting OEM GM flexplate bolts, thats what I did and they don't cost that much either. Most dealers will have them in stock too...

anyone got a part number?

Having a hard time allocating them on the web.

Originally Posted by TDCRacing

What's the issues with the ARP bolts?

From what I remember, even properlky torqued with locktite they would still back out over time and I think a few even broke. There are several threads about this issue on ClubGP.

I didn't want to take the chance. My original OEM GM bolt lasted 150k, I figure I can get that out of my new ones provding the tranny lasts that long too....

Originally Posted by Merlin

anyone got a part number?

Having a hard time allocating them on the web.

IIRC the flexplate bolts are 24501365 and you'll need 6 I think.

Also the converter bolts (which aren't nesscary, but spares won't hurt) is 11588468 and you'll need 3 of those.

Hope that helps...

Comes in a package of 8.

Looked them up on gm parts direct and they were 80c for a bag of eight. Unfortunately they wanted $13 for shipping. guess ill run to the stealership and see what they want for them.

Originally Posted by Merlin

Comes in a package of 8.

Looked them up on gm parts direct and they were 80c for a bag of eight. Unfortunately they wanted $13 for shipping. guess ill run to the stealership and see what they want for them.

That's $.80 each, and you have to buy a bag of 8 for $6.40 + shipping. Need to keep that in mind when you go to the dealership.

IIRC they are not even ARP bolts!

Some post I came across pointed out that the bolts sold as ARP flexplate bolts are not even ARP.

I bought a set of these late last year and just installed them on my car when I built a new engine a few months back. They are ARP bolts as ARP is stamped in the head of every bolt just as all authentic ARP bolts have. I have taken out bent and damaged stock bolts on higher powered cars so wanted an upgrade since I can launch my car (rwd) at full throttle and get low 1.6 60's and hopefully cut into the 1.5s when I get a chance to go back to the track if I ever have time to work on the car lol. I was unaware of this problem with these bolts so checked into it a little and couldnt find anything other than people saying not to use them because of past problems but couldnt find any problems though I do see where they are coming from. I found a thread on 3800pro about someone asking about these bolts and someone from Intense posted that these bolts are not specifically flexplate bolts and were intended as accessory bolts from ARP but were a match to the size of the 3800 flexplate bolts. I cant believe they are sub-par bolts as they make a great product but the test of time proves itself and if a product doesnt work then it doesnt work. Now its got me wanting to drop the trans out of my car and put stock ones back in! I only have about 500 miles on the engine and hate to take things back apart but its probably for the best.

Incredible information.

Thanks!

just went to the dealership and a set of 8 came to under $12. Ill pick them up tomorrow.