Head bolt markings

[Steve L.]

Is it normal to have a variety of different head bolt markings for a SB '73

[Alan S.]

Re: Head bolt markings

Hi Steve,
Your question made me think about the engine assembly.
Since the two heads can have different casting dates does that lead to the heads being assembled on different dates and thus the box of bolts used might be from different suppliers?
I'd think then that the 2 heads could have different bolt head markings and even the same head could have a combination of markings depending on how the supply of bolts was mixed.
All just supposition!
Regards,
Alan

[Martin N.]

Re: Head bolt markings

STEVE-

Here's my 1974 L-48 head bolts showing 2 different head markings. Notice between intake & exhaust valves/springs of cyl. #6 shows "-TR-" and the others are just a double circle. Not uncommon at all as far as I've seen from many SB chevy engines.

Cylinder head casting #'s are: C204 (March 02, 1974) for the left head and C224 (March 22, 1974) for the right head. I wish I would've taken better and more pictures of these area's.

Marty

[John H.]

Re: Head bolt markings

Both heads went on the block at the same time (nobody paid any attention to casting dates), and head bolts were bin-stocked on both sides of the line, by part number, from multiple suppliers. Nobody paid any attention to bolt headmarks either - each supplier had his own headmark, but they were all the same part number. Each part number had its own bin, and headmarks were mixed in the same bin.