Reinforced ARP cylinder head bolts Toyota 4E-FE 4E-FTE 5E-FE 5E-FHE

The engine concerned

The Toyota 4E-FE, 4E-FTE (1.3 litres) and 5E-FE, 5E-FHE (1.5 litres) are sixteen-valve inline four-cylinder engines, fitted notably to the Starlet, Corolla, Corolla II, Corsa, Tercel and Paseo. ARP matches these engines to its 203-3801 ARP2000 twelve-point cylinder head bolt kit.

As built, the 5E-FE cylinder head is secured by head bolts tightened to 44 Nm then 90° according to the manufacturer; the original torque of the 4E-FE, 4E-FTE and 5E-FHE is not confirmed. ARP kit 203-3801 replaces these original bolts.

Reinforced ARP cylinder head bolts

The job of the head fasteners is to keep the cylinder head locked to the block despite the pressure inside the combustion chambers. They keep the gasket compressed; as soon as their clamping force drops, leaks appear between head and block.

ARP kit 203-3801 brings together ten twelve-point ARP2000 bolts, with no nut. According to the instruction sheet, the gasket and head go on first; the washers then sit on clean, dry seats, chamfer facing the bolt head, then threads and head undersides take ARP Ultra-Torque before torque tightening. Developed by ARP, ARP2000 alloy steel is heat treated to 220,000 psi tensile strength, and its threads are rolled once the treatment is done. Compared with the 10.9 and 12.9 classes of standard fasteners, between 150,800 and 176,900 psi minimum tensile strength, the gap reaches 24 to 46 %. No tightness figure specific to this kit is published, as its thread is not known. As an estimate only, equivalent ARP2000 fasteners of M10 diameter sit around 600 hp on a four-cylinder engine.

Technical specifications

Tightening torque

Before fitting, the instruction sheet asks for the block threads to be cleaned, if needed with a D4 or smaller cleaning tap.

The head seats are cleaned with solvent and both faces of each washer are degreased: any trace of oil or grease on these surfaces makes the preload uneven.

Final tightening is done in three successive stages, following the manufacturer's tightening sequence; these torque figures only hold with ARP assembly lubricant on the threads and under the bolt heads.

No trace of oil under the washers: they are fitted dry, wiped on both sides, and the head seats are degreased for even tightening.

The torque figures above come from ARP instruction sheet 203-3801, revision applicable on the day the page went online. The official instruction sheet prevails in case of difference and describes the complete procedure, tightening sequence included. Read the ARP 203-3801 instruction sheet

Technical guide

All torque values on this page are given with ARP assembly grease on the threads and under the bolt heads; another lubricant would make them wrong.

The ARP brand

Gary Holzapfel, a former aerospace engineer, created ARP (Automotive Racing Products) in the early 1970s to tackle engine failures caused by insufficiently strong fasteners in racing. Today the brand develops and manufactures thousands of parts in California, available in several material grades as needed.

Advantages over the original bolts

Criterion	Original head bolts	Reinforced ARP bolts
Material	Standard steel	ARP2000, 220,000 psi tensile

When to upgrade the cylinder head fasteners

The original fasteners are sized for the engine as it leaves the factory. They need to be reinforced when:

• 4E-FTE turbo, tuned 4E-FE, 5E-FE and 5E-FHE: output raised beyond stock
• The compression ratio rises as the build progresses
• The original gasket is replaced by a reinforced MLS gasket, which requires a high and uniform preload
• The engine has already suffered a lifted head or a gasket leak
• Competition use imposes severe heat cycles and regular head removals

Vehicle compatibility

Why is it the most cost-effective solution?

On a pushed 4E or 5E, the original bolts are the first to limit gasket retention. ARP2000 bolts offer a higher clamp load, for a price out of all proportion to a cylinder head to be reworked, gasket and labour included.

Consider a reinforced head gasket

Reinforced fasteners are only fully worthwhile with a head gasket able to resist the same pressure. We offer the following part for this engine: