Top 5 Places To Use ARP Fasteners Outside The Engine

If you have been in or around the performance automotive industry for any amount of time, then the acronym ARP should be a familiar one. After all, Automotive Racing Products (ARP) has been around since 1968 when Gary Holzapfel founded the company to alleviate fastener failures on his friend’s engines. Nearly five decades later, the company continues to hold a massive market share when it comes to locking down components inside the engine and out.

During the teardown of my own personal small-block, I was pleasantly surprised to see the three-letter abbreviation stamped on my crank main bolts and on the head and intake manifold studs. The top-end studs were outfitted with an Allen-head socket that allowed an easier tear down, but more importantly, these items all signified that the engine was built with quality parts, including its fasteners.

ARP Continues Outside The Engine

As my block clung to its stand void of pistons, rods, and camshaft while waiting on its next build phase, my mind began to wonder. What if a build was to utilize ARP hardware outside of the engine? Sure, we’ve all seen ARP wheel studs and the occasional SEMA build using ARP bolts for beadlocks or bedsides, but a complete build whose bolt and nut selection consists of the signature 12-point head? Now that would be a sight to see!

The idea of replacing every bolt, nut, stud, and washer on a vehicle with ARP hardware still sounds like a fantastic idea, but there are more strategic ways to utilize the strength that ARP products provides without trying to overstrain an OE-spec, or God forbid, local hardware store’s fastener.

Apparently, car guys think alike and the significance of using ARP hardware to amplify a build’s quality has been seen in the show circuit for years, however, there was still more on my mind than the thought of winning trophies. You see, as much as I enjoy viewing show cars and trucks, I tend to sway towards enjoying my builds spiritedly, and rely on the products used to avoid downtime. Even in that previously mentioned toasted small-block, it was nice knowing that the hardware used internally was not at fault and was actually reusable.

ARP Provides The Strength Where Its Needed

Transmission

There are several places in the chassis that I think we can all agree we would rather not revisit. The transmission is one location that I am constantly concerned about, as I’m not a fan of dropping the gearbox out of the chassis repeatedly. This rings especially…