user1029

Great time to put a 4.5L in

RobC4sX51

New steel bolts installed on my GT4 with just under 25k miles. My Indy mechanic said one bolt was loose a couple of turns. Total out the door with the bolts & new valve cover gaskets was $1205.75. I will enjoy the car to the “max” with no worries next weekend at Road America. Thx John & Wray.

James88

That's brilliant Rob, this will give a lot of relief to a lot of us at not too much expense
Edit; How long did the job take to complete?

RobC4sX51

I will ask him and get back to you. I know they could not turn the engine with the rear wheels, even with the plugs out. They had to use the starter/key!

okie981

The bolts in the first picture have a different head height and look a bit different overall from those laying on the paper in the last photo. Are the ones in the last photo the ones removed or installed, or something else?

PhillyNate

WOW, just read through all of this and my mind is blown. I am happy I have a “pedestrian” 2.9 liter.

RobC4sX51

He said about 7 hours. I had him install some new Schroth seatbelts and swap to my track wheels/tires, plus the valve cover gaskets are about $100. But to just do the cam sprocket tensioner bolts was 7 hours labor.

RobC4sX51

The top ones are the new steel ones. The ones on the service invoice paper are what was removed. They are in fact alluminum. The new bolts are flush with the cam sprocket rather than inset, he tells me.

RobC4sX51

is your 2.9 a 2013-2016 9A1 generation block? If so, I would not assume you are immune! Especially if you have a manual AND you track it. Disregard, I forgot that the 2.9 was a 987.2 generation motor. You are fine as BGB confirms those had steel bolts from the factory.

PhillyNate

No, I have a 2010 gen 2

BillC3

What size and grade are the new steel bolts you had installed?

And, I'm guessing your mechanic was able to do this with the engine still in the car, correct?

RobC4sX51

I do not know the supplier of the steel bolts nor their size & grade. I purchased them through BGB. And yes, my mechanic only removed the exhaust and was able to do it from below the car. He said it took about 7 hours.

okie981

Where did you get the torque spec? It says on the invoice that bolts were torqued to customer spec.

RobC4sX51

From Wray at BGB. Red loktite too, per Wray. Never thought I’d get this many questions for a thread that was essentially dead until I posted my bolt swap!

okie981

Obviously a thread like this perks up lots of ears for those who track their cars. Thanks for replying and sharing the info. I've shared a lot of info on Rennlist over the last 4 years, and it's threads like this one and people like you that keep me coming back.

EDIT: OP, disregard below question, I was being lazy. I read your earlier post above about miles on the car and track use.
If you are willing to disclose, about how many miles did you have on your car, total miles and track miles, when the swap was done and one bolt "was about 2 turns loose"?

Danke!