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Ford Tractors Discussion Forum
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Will 7/16 head bolts work on 1/2 inch head?

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Bobrh

08-22-2005 19:31:01




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Have a rebuilt head for my 871 but it is 1/2 inch and the block is 7/16 inch. Haven't been able to find bushings and New Holland wants $20.52 each for the 12 shoulder head bolts. Any ideas? The local machine shop that does engine rebuilds suggested getting 2 of the New Holland bolts for alignment and just use the 7/16 bolts for the rest. Would they torque up right?

Thanks




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CJ-maybe

08-23-2005 08:09:25




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 Re: Will 7/16 head bolts work on 1/2 inch head? in reply to Bobrh, 08-22-2005 19:31:01  
If you want bushings,Davistractor.,shows bushings w/ head.Might sell them seperate?Found some-$40-50,at auto hi-po sites.Edelbrock lists them.



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~~HB~~ in NC

08-23-2005 07:45:51




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 Re: Will 7/16 head bolts work on 1/2 inch head? in reply to Bobrh, 08-22-2005 19:31:01  
Hi Bobrh,
Have you considered getting hard 1/2 inch bolts that are the correct length and re thread the end of them to 7/16?
I have never tried this, but I think I can make it work.
~~HB~~ in NC



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Fighting suburbia in NC

08-23-2005 09:27:09




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 Re: Will 7/16 head bolts work on 1/2 inch head? in reply to ~~HB~~ in NC, 08-23-2005 07:45:51  
Not enough diameter difference to leave good strong threads if you do manage to get the die running straight. The thread pitch would probably give you problems and give some thin, some thick peaks.

I would not care to try to torque down a died-down thread to the torque required to hold a head on properly - the threat of either twisting off the thread on initial tightening or having the residual strain pop one (or more) apart later ain't worth it to my thinking. Pulling broke bolts in a block is not my idea of productive time.

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~~HB~~ in NC

08-23-2005 09:52:59




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 Re: Will 7/16 head bolts work on 1/2 inch head? in reply to Fighting suburbia in NC, 08-23-2005 09:27:09  
My fellow North Carolinian has a good point. Another possible solution would be to get hard 1/2 inch bolts that are longer than needed, then cut off the existing threads and rethread the bolt with 7/16 threads.
By the way, where are you fighting suburbia in NC? I am doing the same thing outside of Fayetteville.
~~HB~~ in NC



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Fighting suburbia in NC

08-24-2005 08:48:13




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 Re: Will 7/16 head bolts work on 1/2 inch head? in reply to ~~HB~~ in NC, 08-23-2005 09:52:59  
They just ran the 64 Bypass south of Knightdale through much of the land I grew up farming on - too bad the land all belonged to somebody else and I was just a hired hand. Now the used-to-be-out-in-the-country subdivision I grew up in and moved back to is going to be inside the 540 loop between Knightdale and Raleigh. Only land left anywhere near me is priced for development - my farming activity these days is relegated to helping a friend of mine way out in Nash County try to do something with the old tobacco farm he inherited. Long ways to go to smell the turned earth and get my seat time. But at least nobody in the neighborhood squawks about the tractor(s) I keep around the house ;>)

Sometimes I wish my parents had inherited lots of land in Wake County instead of having an education - except that all the land is getting sold for development now just to be able to pay the taxes on it.

Reckon it ain't no different here than anywhere else, though.

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Rod F.

08-23-2005 18:50:30




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 Re: Will 7/16 head bolts work on 1/2 inch head? in reply to ~~HB~~ in NC, 08-23-2005 09:52:59  
I'm going to sound like a smartass, but have you ever tried running a die down a hard bolt? I think the project will stop after about a 1/4" or so, unless you have a long handled, strong die stock, and an awful good die. I don't think they'll thread too well, if at all. Just my 2 cents.

Rod



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Fighting suburbia in NC

08-24-2005 08:54:30




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 Re: Will 7/16 head bolts work on 1/2 inch head? in reply to Rod F., 08-23-2005 18:50:30  
Not a smartass comment (at least to me) - anybody that has been there, tried to do that will agree with your assessment. I have had the bolt I was attempting to thread snap due to the die loading up and jamming and the "big lever" provided enough twist. My fault, I was in a hurry and knew the bolt needed to be smaller diameter to fit the die properly. It was close, but not close enough....

And removing a broke bolt from a die is likely to cause some cussin'..... ...

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awhtx

08-23-2005 06:13:27




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 Re: Will 7/16 head bolts work on 1/2 inch head? in reply to Bobrh, 08-22-2005 19:31:01  
Ford 289/302 engines have this same dilemna when installing 351W heads. Ford used to sell a special hardened washer to put under the head of the bolt. Line-up was not a problem because there is a dowel on each end of the head. If the tractor head has these line-up dowels then the 7/16 bolts will work.



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JeremyS

08-23-2005 18:02:25




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 Re: Will 7/16 head bolts work on 1/2 inch head? in reply to awhtx, 08-23-2005 06:13:27  
awthx read my mind on this one! I don't remember if it was Jeg's or Summit, but one of the racing parts catalogs used to sell Ford Motorsport bushings that let you use 7/16 bolts in heads that were designed for 1/2 bolts. They were for all the 5.0 guys who wanted to swap out their stock heads for Windsor heads. Jeremy



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Bobrh

08-23-2005 06:57:08




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 Re: Will 7/16 head bolts work on 1/2 inch head? in reply to awhtx, 08-23-2005 06:13:27  
No dowels that is why the machine shop suggested using two of the shoulder bolts for alignment. The fit on the bolts is very loose on both the 7/16 head and the 1/2 inch head so it doesn't seem that alignment is critical- maybe someone could comment on that?



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Dan

08-23-2005 04:48:19




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 Re: Will 7/16 head bolts work on 1/2 inch head? in reply to Bobrh, 08-22-2005 19:31:01  
I am not sure I would trust two of the 12 bolts to hold the head from side to side movement. Yes, the smaller bolts will torque down correctly, but I would bite the bullet and use the correct bolts. Maybe you can find them from another supplier for considerably less per bolt - $20.52 each seems pretty steep. Heck, for the $40 you are already planning to spend, I am sure you could locate some good condition used bolts.

Just my $.02 worth,
Dan

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john_bud

08-23-2005 21:41:07




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 Re: Will 7/16 head bolts work on 1/2 inch head? in reply to Dan, 08-23-2005 04:48:19  
Did you think of using 0.030 shim stock and wraping it around the 7/16 bolts to fill the gap so to speak? Maybe in conjunction with a few of the "real" 1/2 to 7/16 bolts?

Just a thought.

jb



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Dan

08-24-2005 06:16:45




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 Re: Will 7/16 head bolts work on 1/2 inch head? in reply to john_bud, 08-23-2005 21:41:07  
Yep - I'll bet that would work fine.

Dan



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