5.7 HEMI Head Bolt Torque & Tightening Sequence (2003-Present, Gen III)
By WhatSizeBoltEdited 10 min read
5.7 HEMI head bolt torque: M12 bolts (1-10) 25 then 40 ft-lb then +90 degrees; M8 perimeter bolts (11-15) 15 then 15 then 25 ft-lb, no angle. TTY M12s are single-use. ARP stud/bolt kit values shown separately.
The 5.7 HEMI uses two bolt sizes per head — ten M12 bolts that do the real clamping work and five smaller M8 bolts around the perimeter — and only the M12s get the torque-plus-angle final pass. Mix up the sequence, skip the angle step, or reuse the old bolts and the next symptom is a weeping head gasket or a rounded-out combustion seal.
What this article covers
Gen III 5.7L HEMI only — 2003 to present, including the 2009+ Eagle block.
This page covers the Gen III 5.7L HEMI (VIN designation varies by year; the 2009+ "Eagle" revision carries VIN digit T) as installed across Ram 1500/2500, Durango, Grand Cherokee, Charger, Challenger and 300 — the whole 2003–present run. Summit’s own torque-spec article states the procedure as "All Early and Late Gen 3 Hemi Engines 2003 – Current" with no year split, and a second Summit spec table lists the identical head-bolt value across its 5.7L and 5.7L Eagle columns — so nothing sourced here changes for the Eagle block. What did change in 2009 (per Summit's editorial engine-spec guide) is the head casting itself: Variable Cam Timing plus the Multiple Displacement System drove a revised combustion chamber and improved intake port flow — a breathing change, not a fastener change. The 6.1L, 6.2L and 6.4L HEMI variants share the same head-bolt pattern in Summit's spec sheet but are not the focus of this page; confirm against the same sources before applying this procedure to one.
5.7 HEMI head bolt torque specs
Two bolt sizes, two procedures — only the M12s get an angle pass.
| Bolt | First pass | Second pass | Final pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| M12 x 1.5 (#1–10) | 25 ft-lb | 40 ft-lb | +90° |
| M8 x 1.25 (#11–15) | 15 ft-lb | 15 ft-lb | 25 ft-lb (no angle) |
Source: Summit Racing KB article SR-05407, an explicit reproduction of the factory procedure for "All Early and Late Gen 3 Hemi Engines 2003 – Current." A second Summit spec table (HE-05430) corroborates the M12 figure and gives the M8 pass as a 2-step "15 then 25 ft-lb" rather than the 3-step version above — both are shown here rather than picking one.
The bolts themselves
Two thread sizes, and the M12s are single-use.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| M12 bolt/stud thread | M12 x 1.5 |
| M8 bolt thread | M8 x 1.25 |
| Count | 15 per head — 10 x M12, 5 x M8 |
| Type | Factory bolts are torque-to-yield — permanently stretched, replace every time |
Factory 5.7 HEMI head bolts are single-use torque-to-yield (TTY) bolts — Summit's installation article states it plainly: "Stock-style cylinder head bolts are Torque to Yield Fasteners. NEVER reuse old TTY bolts." OnAllCylinders' Eagle-specific engine spec guide independently confirms the same thing for the 2009+ block: "Cylinder Head Bolt Style: Torque to Yield (TTY)," "Cylinder Head Bolt Size: M12 x 1.5mm & 8mm." The angle pass on the M12s is what does the stretching — that is why they can't be reused and the M8s, which never see an angle, aren't described as TTY in the same terms.
Tightening pattern
Ten M12 bolts first, center-out; five M8 perimeter bolts last.
Torque the ten M12 bolts through all three passes first, in the numbered order shown — the sequence starts at the center pair (1, then 2) and works outward toward the ends (9, 10) on both rows. Only after the M12s are fully torqued do you move to the five M8 perimeter bolts (11–15), which get their own three-step straight torque. Do the whole thing per head before starting the other.
How to torque 5.7 HEMI head bolts, step by step
Dowels, a clean deck and the right gasket orientation matter as much as the numbers.
- Press in new dowel pins — two per side, aligning the head to the block. Always replace them; tap lightly with a hammer if needed.
- Clean the deck surfaces of both the block and the head with a clean rag and acetone (or a similar cleaner) before setting anything down.
- Set the head gasket with the correct orientation — make sure any "L", "R" or "this side up" marking faces the way it should before the head goes on.
- Set the cylinder head on the dowels carefully, without nicking or scratching the deck.
- Install all bolts finger-tight first, then work the pattern — never run one bolt down tight before the others are started.
- Torque the ten M12 bolts through all three passes (25 → 40 ft-lb → +90°) in the numbered sequence, using a calibrated torque wrench and a torque angle gauge for the final pass.
- Torque the five M8 perimeter bolts (15 → 15 → 25 ft-lb, no angle) in the numbered sequence.
- Repeat the whole process for the other head.
ARP head studs & bolts (the reusable alternative)
ARP hardware is not TTY: straight torque, no angle, and it can be reused — the go-to for a rebuild or a power-adder build.
ARP publishes separate instruction sheets for its 5.7/6.1 HEMI head stud kit (244-4300) and head bolt kit (147-3901). Both use the same numbered 15-position sequence as the factory hardware, and both are torqued dry-washer/lubed-thread with ARP Ultra-Torque assembly lubricant — no angle pass on either. Always follow the sheet in your actual box; the numbers below are ARP's own published values.
| ARP kit | M12 (#1–10) | M8 (#11–15) |
|---|---|---|
| Head STUD kit #244-4300 | 30 → 60 → 105 ft-lb | 25 ft-lb |
| Head BOLT kit #147-3901 | 35 → 70 → 100 ft-lb | 28 ft-lb |
Gasket install notes
Directional markings and facing matter more than which brand is in the box.
Summit's own factory-style procedure calls out watching for an "L", "R" or "this side up" marking on the head gasket before setting the head down. Fel-Pro's general gasket installation tips sheet gives the underlying rule for any gasket, HEMI or not: follow whatever directional markings are printed on the gasket; a fiber-faced gasket installs dry, while a metal-faced gasket calls for a thin, even coat of sealer on the metal side(s). Modern MLS (multi-layer steel) head gaskets — what a 5.7 HEMI runs from the factory — ship with the sealing coating already applied, so follow the instruction sheet that comes in your specific gasket set rather than defaulting to an older sealer-by-hand routine.
Tools and parts for the job
The angle gauge is not optional on the M12s — order anything you're missing before you start.
Some links below are Amazon affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Torque angle gauge
The M12 head bolt spec ends in a +90° angle pass. A 1/2" drive angle gauge is the only way to turn 90° and know it was 90° — counting socket flats is not close enough on a bolt being stretched past yield.
1/2" torque wrench
A calibrated click wrench for the 25/40 ft-lb passes on the M12s and the 15/15/25 ft-lb passes on the M8s. Everything after the M12's last ft-lb reading is angle, so that starting point has to be right.
5.7 HEMI head bolt set
Factory-style replacement head bolts for the Gen III 5.7 HEMI. The M12s are single-use by design — reusing the old ones is the direct route to a leaking head gasket.
ARP HEMI head stud kit
Non-TTY and reusable, unlike the factory stretch bolts — the standard upgrade for a rebuild or repeated teardowns. Match the kit to your engine (244-4300 studs or 147-3901 bolts) and follow the instruction sheet in the box for torque and lubricant.
5.7 HEMI MLS head gasket set
Fresh multi-layer-steel gaskets for the Gen III 5.7 HEMI — match the set to your specific engine and year, and follow the directional markings printed on the gasket.
Common mistakes
Five ways a HEMI head job comes back.
- Reusing the old M12 head bolts — they are torque-to-yield and already stretched. New bolts, every time, unless you switch to ARP.
- Angling the M8 perimeter bolts — the M8s are a straight 3-step torque with no angle pass; that habit belongs to the M12s only.
- Torquing the M8s before the M12s are fully done — run all ten M12 bolts through all three passes first, then move to the perimeter bolts.
- Guessing the angle by socket flats — a hex flat is 60°. An angle gauge is the only accurate way to hit +90°.
- Ignoring the gasket’s directional marking — an "L"/"R"/"this side up" mark installed backwards blocks a coolant passage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the head bolt torque on a 5.7 HEMI?
The ten M12 bolts (positions 1–10) get 25 ft-lb, then 40 ft-lb, then +90°, in the numbered sequence. The five M8 perimeter bolts (11–15) get 15 ft-lb, then 15 ft-lb, then 25 ft-lb, with no angle. This applies to Gen III 5.7 HEMI engines 2003 to present, including the 2009+ Eagle block.
Can I reuse 5.7 HEMI head bolts?
No, not the factory M12 bolts. They are torque-to-yield and are permanently stretched by the +90° angle pass, so a reused bolt won't reach the same clamp load. Replace all ten M12s (and, per most install guides, the M8s too) or switch to a reusable ARP stud or bolt kit.
What size are 5.7 HEMI head bolts?
Two sizes: ten M12 x 1.5 bolts (positions 1–10, the ones that get the angle pass) and five M8 x 1.25 perimeter bolts (positions 11–15). The thread sizes are confirmed by ARP's own thread-chaser part numbers for its replacement stud and bolt kits.
Is the 2009+ Eagle 5.7 HEMI head bolt torque different from the early engine?
Not in the sources we could verify. Summit Racing's factory-style procedure is stated as covering "All Early and Late Gen 3 Hemi Engines 2003 – Current," and a second Summit spec table lists an identical head-bolt value across both its 5.7L and 5.7L Eagle columns. What changed in 2009 was the head casting itself — Variable Cam Timing and the Multiple Displacement System drove a revised combustion chamber and improved port flow — not the fastener spec.
What is the ARP torque spec for HEMI head studs and bolts?
ARP's stud kit (244-4300): 30, then 60, then 105 ft-lb on the M12 nuts, and 25 ft-lb on the M8 nuts, with ARP Ultra-Torque lubricant and no angle pass. ARP's bolt kit (147-3901): 35, then 70, then 100 ft-lb on the M12s, and 28 ft-lb on the M8s. Always follow the sheet in your kit.
Keep going
Bottom line: torque the ten M12 head bolts (#1–10) 25 → 40 ft-lb → +90° in the numbered sequence, then the five M8 perimeter bolts (#11–15) 15 → 15 → 25 ft-lb with no angle. The M12s are single-use TTY — new bolts every time, or switch to a reusable ARP stud (244-4300) or bolt (147-3901) kit and follow its own sheet. Nothing here changes for the 2009+ Eagle block.