Hi everyone, I am in the process of rebuilding a 3.8 out of a 2000 model. I need some advice on where I can get my replacement bolts? I am going back stock and am going to use oem type bolts. I am going to replace the usual tty bolts(head, rod, rocker arm..) I am guessing I may have to buy from the dealership, but there has to be other options?
Another question, does the smaller main cap bolts that are located on the side need to be replaced also?
Thanks, Allen

 

i thought only the head bolts were tty. best to go by the factory service/shop manual. download your year here https://www.mediafire.com/?40mfgeoe4ctti on another note why not pick up a low miles series 3 3.8. https://camaroforums.com/forum/93-02...nt-info-57568/

 

I have not head about another source for those bolts. I would be a little surprised to see an aftermarket source.

To develop the manufacturing process to make a bolt like this is very expensive. The original manufacture was paid a large amount of money by GM, GM most likely owns the tools or at least the first set of tools used to make these bolt. Remember GM bought millions of these bolt during production. For someone to come along and spend 100k in tooling hoping enough people will need replacement is unlikely. Now if the is a high enough demand either a distributer or the OEM could start selling them. Again my guess would be GM orders 10,000 bolts at a time from the OEM and sits on them until they are gone. The only reason the OEM makes a low volume run like that is to keep GM happy.

Now if the bolt was not TTY there are a half a dozen different ways to make it including just making on a CNC lathe or screw machine. With those processes you can make 500-1000 pcs batch sizes and sell to the aftermarket all day long.

 

Huh? There are a number of aftermarket companies making TTY head bolts for the 3.8. Many many different makes of vehicles with aluminum heads use TTY bolts, manufacturing bolt stock for the aftermarket isn't just limited to fitting a GM. If you look on rockauto.com, Fel-Pro, Magnum, DNJ, and Victor Reinz make TTY head bolts for the 3.8. The last 3, I never heard of, and I'm sure there are more brands from other sources. I'd go with the Fel-Pro unless you have a good source for the Chevrolet Performance bolts.