So, I've been rebuilding a 1999 4.6L Romeo SOHC for my 1998 F-250. The carbon was caked on the top of the pistons pretty damn good and I wanted to clean that off, check the rings, hone the cylinders, pop the expansion plugs out, clean everything out, and give it a nice paint job before reassembly.

So far, I've dropped $475 on the engine and have been comfortable with the replacement part budget at around $600 for various stuff I need (seals, gaskets, bearings, bolts, etc ... mostly from RockAuto)

It was going great until I read the part about the main cap and connecting rod bolts being torque-to-yield (TTY) and needing to be replaced, like the head bolts, which I already knew about.

I figured it was gonna be no biggy. After all, the TTY head bolts run around $16 for each set.

Boy was I in for a terrible SURPRISE! It turns out, these stupid bolts can be the most expensive part of a rebuild.

So far, for the connecting rod bolts, all I can find is:
ARP-256-6301 ~$150
genuine Ford $12.38 X 16 = ~$200

For the main cap side bolts I found:
ARP-156-5201 or ARP-156-5202 ~$56 (not sure of the difference)

I can't even seem to find the main cap top bolts anywhere.

I guess my question is: Am I insane to try reusing my TTY main cap and connecting rod bolts?

From what I've read so far, the picture I'm getting is:

TTY head bolt reuse: completely insane (didn't expect to)
TTY connecting rod bolt reuse: somewhat insane
TTY main cap bolt reuse: mildly insane

I figured I'd check with you fine folk. Being on a budget, I'm not thrilled at the idea of spending $200 - $300 more on some frickin' bolts than I was expecting. This is a work truck. I pull trailers, but I don't race the damn thing.

Thanks,
Steve
Kissimmee, FL

 

Seems that I missed the part where the Ford connecting rod bolts came 4 in a pack for $12.38 http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/Pa...rd&model=F-250

at $49.52 for all 16, I'll get the rod bolts ... just debating on the main caps now

 

full set of main cap side bolts for ~$30 http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/Pa...rd&model=F-250

8/10 of the main cap top bolts for ~$30 http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/Pa...rd&model=F-250

talked myself into doing at least that much ... there's at least one studded bolt on one of the main caps for holding the oil uptake tube. I think I'll take my chances with reusing that one and one of the other "regular" main cap top bolts.

 

Yeah, I definitely would not reuse TTY bolts.

Let us know how it all works out.

 

 

It looks like fordparts.com now redirects to parts.ford.com and the selection is only 5% of what it was before. I don't know what the hell happened here.

Any Ford dealer should be able to order the bolts for you.

The engine ran great when I was finally done btw.