These bolts are all listed as one shot stretch bolts, do they really need to be renewed or can they be re-used?

They're not cheap! (Although compared to a new engine they may be )

ERR 6954L Conrod Bolt - 10 required at £5.34 each +VAT

ERR 5278 Bolt Main Bearing Cap - 12 required at £1.70 each +VAT

I'm pulling the engine out tomorrow to clean, paint and do the rear crank seal (also doing cylinder head rebuild due to HG failure), and want to check the mains but not replace the bolts if they look OK.

Checking because the cam and rocker followers were pitted.

Is it just a false economy to _not_ replace all the bottom end bearings whilst I've got the engine out?

main bearing bolts are cheap! The ones I need are £40 a set

con rod bolts are more though


you may as well replace them if you're taking the caps off. Bearings are cheap

Both sets of shells & bolts is 151 quid from Turners + more for gaskets & thrusts.

How easy would it be to do the conrod shells without pulling the pistons from the engine - I know I'll need to take the crank out - the bores look really good, no glazing and honing is in a good state - does that mean the rings are probably good?

It went like a rocket before (and during) the HG failure so I've no reason to think there's a compression problem.

280 quid including full gasket kit

Not hard to do. That's how I did the last chevy. Pistons installed and crank out