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Rod Bolts
Pontiac V8 Rod Bolts
The Hardest-Working Fastener — Rod Bolts for Pontiac V8s
Rod bolts are the highest-stressed fastener in a Pontiac V8. They see every inertia load the piston makes, twice per revolution, and a tired factory bolt is the usual reason a stock rod lets go. Any set of used rods going back into a performance engine gets new bolts before it gets anything else.
Butler stocks ARP Pontiac rod bolt kits for 1963-and-later cast rods, 1957-1962 forged rods and 1973-74 Super Duty rods, plus Eagle ARP2000 and 8740-series 7/16 cap screws for Eagle aftermarket rods.
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More About Rod Bolts
1. Which Rod Do You Have
Pontiac used more than one rod bolt over the years, and the aftermarket rods use their own. The rod decides the bolt, not the displacement.
| 1963 and later cast rods | ARP-190-6001 is the 3/8" bolt and nut kit for 326, 389, 400 and 455 cast rods from 1963 on, rated at 200,000 psi — a large step over what the factory bolt was doing. |
| 1957-1962 forged rods | ARP-190-6002 is the 3/8" bolt and nut kit for the early forged rod. |
| 1973-74 Super Duty rods | ARP-190-6003 is the 7/16" bolt and nut kit those rods take. |
| Eagle aftermarket rods | EAG-20030-16 is a 7/16" ARP2000 12-point cap screw at 200,000 psi with 1.800" underhead length; EAG-12080-16 is the 180,000 psi 7/16" cap screw with the same 1.800" underhead length. |
2. Installing Them Correctly
New rod bolts are not a swap-and-go item. The big end changes shape when the clamping load changes.
| Resize after replacing | rods should be resized after new bolts go in so the big end is round with the new hardware torqued in place. |
| Factory torque | Butler's Pontiac chart lists connecting rod bolts at 45 ft-lbs with assembly lube, and Super Duty rod bolts at 65 ft-lbs. |
| ARP hardware is different | when you install ARP bolts you use ARP's specification and lube, not the factory figure. Stretch measurement, where the rod design allows it, is the more accurate method. |
| Keep them in order | bolts, caps and rods stay matched to their own big end from teardown through final assembly. |
If the rods are coming out anyway for a stroker crank or new pistons, bolts are cheap insurance compared to what a failed one takes with it. Butler's machine shop resizes Pontiac rods as part of that job.
Not sure what your Pontiac needs?
Call our tech team at 866-762-7527. Tell us your engine, heads, car, and power goal, and we will put the parts together as one combination that works.