Anyone use 440source house brand head bolts?

[tmaleck]

this doesn't answer the question but it is an interesting fact. My Lawson product supplier told me that there are only two manufacturers of fasteners still in the USA. They make all of the stuff for Caterpillar (where i used to work) and the other US made stuff. He said one is "Great Lakes, i can't remember the other name. But the different bolt companies buy time on the line and the stuff is built to their specs and branded as such.
the guy knows his stuff and is not a BSer so i believe him.

Not to try and contradict, but one of the Power Nation shows did a site tour 'promo' at ARP and it showed them making bolts from raw material to finished product. I think they are out of California. I would not be surprised most standard'ish bolts were run in one or two shops though.

 

[Hemirunner]

69Bee is just "assuming" they're made in China because "a lot" of their stuff is. But "a lot" and "all" are two different things. Its ******** like him who spread lies and rumors that can hurt or kill a good small business. Just look what four years of that **** has done to your country!!

Even if he did make an assumption, you’re making an assumption that he’s made an assumption, then judging him for that, and insulting him by name calling him as well. Who’s worse here? (Rhetorical question to prompt some hope of self reflection on your part).
I don’t see why we can’t have a discussion about head bolts without all this garbage. Did anyone verify the country of origin yet? They’re either made in the US or overseas. Either way, I’ll stick to ARP if anyone gives two cents for another opinion on the matter.

 

[69Bee]

Even if he did make an assumption, you’re making an assumption that he’s made an assumption, then judging him for that, and insulting him by name calling him as well. Who’s worse here? (Rhetorical question to prompt some hope of self reflection on your part).
I don’t see why we can’t have a discussion about head bolts without all this garbage. Did anyone verify the country of origin yet? They’re either made in the US or overseas. Either way, I’ll stick to ARP if anyone gives two cents for another opinion on the matter.

Couldn't wait anymore, so I did, Post #17.

 

[3sloppydogs]

Yeah I can see ARP making their own. I think he was referring to large users and marketers etc. I missed that episode, il.look it up.

 

[Budnicks]

I just looked at their website
440Source they do have 'Made in the USA' products too
page 2, they are listed in the 'made in the USA' section
(not sure these are the bolts being discussed/talked about)
No Name brand'
#109-1514 12 pt head bolts sets & 0.100" washers
(head bolts & washers for both their cheap foreign/Chinese cast Stealths
& 100% American Made Edelbrock E-street/RPM BB MoPar heads)
I have no idea where or who makes 'them head bolts'
I've never tried them

but why skimp ?

I use ARP on almost everything, whenever possible

buy quality hardware
just like oils
why take any chances ?

ARP are 100% USA made/sourced products
Just like Edelbrock, here in California

I don't have a dog in this fight
Just wanted to know, so I looked them up

@69Bee hasn't really steered anyone wrong
that I have ever seen

 

[gkent]

From 440Source:

Hi Stan,
Sorry we are not a member of that forum, so I wasn’t able to post there. I did check on our 109-1514, it is made up of several different components on what we call a “build sheet” for the kit. The washers are listed as “South Carolina, USA” as place of manufacturing origin. The field for the bolts is blank, so I cannot guarantee the place of origin. However the supplier we buy the bolts from is a US Company in Southern California, so we do purchase them from a US source. However they may have multiple factories or sources for them.

I do know we have been selling those head bolt kits for over 20 years, and there are probably over 10,000 sets out there, and we never had any kind of problems with them.

Thank you,
Brandon Nicholas
[email protected]
440 Source, Inc
Tel: (775)883-2590
Fax: (775)883-2421
Since 2003

 

[65-440]

I also had a customer bring me a motor he bought that was gone thru recently, and was having issues. I took it apart and at least 6 chinese head studs were too short, only going thru the nut half way.

But wouldn't this be the fault of whoever put the engine together not the fault of mismatched hardware?

 

[gkent]

But wouldn't this be the fault of whoever put the engine together not the fault of mismatched hardware?

It wouldn't be the first time I've heard "that's what the customer gave me, that's what I installed". This is often done in spite because the custome didn't buy parts from the assembler!

 

[65-440]

It wouldn't be the first time I've heard "that's what the customer gave me, that's what I installed". This is often done in spite because the custome didn't buy parts from the assembler!

Right, I get that.. but my point is you can't blame "Chinese hardware" when its clearly the installers fault.

 

[69Bee]

But wouldn't this be the fault of whoever put the engine together not the fault of mismatched hardware?

Yes and no. The studs were crap, and the assembler didn't let the customer know, if he even noticed. I found a lot wrong with the engine, so I was not impressed. The chinese studs were not made correctly, not installed incorrectly.

 

[69Bee]

It wouldn't be the first time I've heard "that's what the customer gave me, that's what I installed". This is often done in spite because the custome didn't buy parts from the assembler!

No, you are correct. I have had customers give me their parts, and when I see issues with their parts, I call them to fix it. If they want to run crappy parts, they sign the receipt so when it grenades, it was their call. I do not just put their bad parts in and say "oh well".

 

[Xp29h]

I used all 440 source components for my 512 stroker build. However, I went ARP with all the bolts. I hadn’t heard anything bad about the house bolts but just spent the extra on ARP. I figured I spent that much already, why not? Good luck with your build!

 

[yella71]

AAAAHHHHHHHH

 

[furious70]

Here's where I make my joke about posting here vs moparts in an attempt to get facts rather than conjecture and flag waving...

We all make buying decisions everyday and I wonder how many of you are driving around in Rams built in Mexico with hemis assembled in Mexico.

Every project has a budget and many speed parts have a cost associated with the name moreso than the quality. Hence my question in the first place.

I appreciate those who have used the product and who took the time to ask 440S about the sourcing, that was a great idea.

 

[Jeremiah]

There are many, many hardware manufactures in the US aside from ARP. Anchor, Atlanta Rod, Kerr-Lakeside, Monroe, Chicago, etc. I had a project a few years back and had 5-7 quotes for some CM threaded studs to be produced.

That said, I have not seen or heard about any 440 source head bolt failures. If I was going to use a stock appearing set of heads I'd stick with a stock appearing set of bolts.

 

[gkent]

440Source has done an outstanding job of making affordable parts available to the Mopar crowd - they should be applauded, not bashed! And its because of companies like them that other manufacturers have to take a hard look at what they charge for marginally better parts. Its also worth noting that they carry a vast range of North American-made parts, just ask Andy F !!!

 

[Dan64]

^^^ So you took a tread about head bolts and within a couple of posts you bashed the U.S.A. and called a fellow board member an asshole , all based on ( admittedly) unknown information. Sounds reasonable.

 

[oldkimmer]

One builder I know changes fasteners every time the motor comes apart. Rod, main and head bolts/studs and nuts. Kim

 

[gkent]

One builder I know changes fasteners every time the motor comes apart. Rod, main and head bolts/studs and nuts. Kim

That's just ridiculous.

 

[oldkimmer]

That's just ridiculous.

I have never heard of 1 failure from his work. Kim