One for the Engine building gurus (KAMAX bolts?)

[SinistrV6]

Anyone ever heard of KAMAX bolts? I know they're German and used in BMW's and VW's and others. They're what's on my connecting rods now and I need to know if they have to be replaced w/ARP's or not. The only markings are KAMAX and 135 on the bolt head.

As always, Thanks,

 

[PaulRV6]

I had some ionfo on these once, but do know they are a high strength bolt of high quality. They do not have to be changed to ARP as they are a high strength bolt from the factory. I went through this once as I was also going to switch to ARP but decided to go with factory replacement bolts.

paul

 

[SinistrV6]

KAMAX

Thanks Paul,

Is there any way to I.D. these bolts in terms of tensile strength? I've searched the 'net but Kamax's website is pretty minimal and I don't know anyone who distributes these bolts. Your info is that these are equal to or better than the ARP's?

 

[Steve Wood]

This is from the archives of the mailing list. It was written by a guy that worked in the Buick engine plant in Flint.
_______________________________________________

in 1985 SPS and Kamax were Dual suppliers and their bolts were used
interchangably.
In 1986 SPS was was the sole supplier and we used up Kamax leftovers. I
don't want to slam a supplier but SPS had better quality that is part of
history. We used SPS until about '91. (I hav e the files if anyone needs
the exact date) When SPS decided to sell one of their manufacturing plants
we went looking for another vendor. Not wanting to get stuck with ACMe
bolts. It was then that Kamax got to be the sole supplier not in '85, not
because they were cheapest or better quality, but because they were the
only ones that could do the annular rings. Fear in our purchasing was the
driver for changing vendors.

SPS never did sell their plant .......

with out digging through my archives for the info I could be off time wise
a little.

I tried to look up ARP in our master fastener manufacturer catalog and
did not find them. Possibly they are a reseller and a major bolt company
really makes their bolts/studs?
They have never supplied rod bolts to Buick as far as I can find out. (Yes
we still call it Buick too)
SPS makes another aftermarket companys rod bolts.

 

[PaulRV6]

This is what I found from their website, sounds ok to me. I am trying to get the conversion to english units for the strength to make a comparison so I will advise.
The link is:www.kamax.com/html/engine.html

paul

 

[PaulRV6]

If my calculations are correct (which I believe they are) the tensile strength of theses bolts are 145,000 psi.

paul

 

[SinistrV6]

Sounds good to me!

Thanks for doing all that reseach and work, Paul. I didn't have any idea that they were original equipment at some point.