Reinforced ARP bolts and nuts for OEM rods TOYOTA 3S-GE 3S-GTE 22R

The Toyota engines concerned

This kit is intended for the Toyota four-cylinder 3S-GE and 3S-GTE engines of 2.0 litres (16 valves, twin overhead camshafts, naturally aspirated or turbocharged, including the BEAMS version of the 3S-GE) and for the 22R of 2.4 litres with 8 valves.

It replaces the original rod bolt, tightened with a nut, with an ARP 8740 bolt that is pressed into the connecting rod.

Reinforced ARP bolts and nuts for connecting rods

At every engine revolution, the rod and piston assembly pulls on the rod cap, and only its bolts hold it against these inertia loads. The original ones are intended for stock power.

The bolts in this kit are made of 8740; they are pressed into the rod and tightened with a nut, preferably to a measured stretch, ARP also giving a fallback torque for anyone without a gauge. 8740 is a chrome-moly steel that ARP heat treats to 180,000 psi tensile strength, with threads rolled after heat treatment. As a reference point, standard engine fasteners mostly belong to classes 10.9 and 12.9, i.e. 150,800 to 176,900 psi minimum strength.

Technical specifications

Before pressing the bolts in, the ARP instructions require a sufficient chamfer at the top of the rod bore so that the radius under the bolt head is cleared.

Tightening torque and stretch

ARP gives priority to stretch control for an accurate preload; the torque in the table is used only when no gauge is available. Torque and stretch figures in the table apply with ARP lubricant.

The values above come from the ARP 203-6002 instruction sheet applicable at the date of publication; it is authoritative in the event of any difference. Read the ARP 203-6002 instruction sheet

No thread locker is called for by the ARP instruction sheet for this kit: the bolts are fitted with ARP Ultra-Torque grease, on their threads and on the bearing face of the nuts.

Once the fasteners are fitted, the ARP instructions call for the big ends to be checked and resized by a machine shop.

Measuring bolt stretch

With the stretch gauge, you read directly how much the bolt stretches during tightening: the dial gauge sits on both ends of the fitted bolt, and tightening stops when the stretch reaches the value in the table. Friction no longer comes into play, hence a more consistent preload on a heavily stressed engine.

Technical guide

Torque and stretch figures are only valid with ARP assembly grease, applied to the bolt threads and to the bearing face of the nuts.

The ARP brand

Founded in the early 1970s by Gary Holzapfel, who came from the aerospace sector, ARP (Automotive Racing Products) was born to put an end to fastener-related engine failures in racing. Its thousands of part numbers, designed and manufactured in California for the cylinder head, the main bearings and the connecting rods, come in several materials depending on the application and are recognised for the consistency of their manufacture.

Vehicle compatibility

Why is it the most cost-effective solution?

A boosted 3S-GTE, or a 22R that is revved harder, loads the rod bolts with tensile forces that rise with engine speed, and one bolt that breaks destroys the rod, the piston and the block. ARP 8740 bolts protect this point for a sum far below that of rebuilding a short block.

Matching connecting rod bearings

Removing the connecting rods is the right time to replace their bearings: here are the ones that fit this engine.