Bolt...recognize Me?

Anyone recognize this bolt and where it may have been used. It was in the proverbial “cup of bolts” that was in the back of my parked in the weeds ‘72 cj5 I’m bringing back. It came off the AMC 304 somewhere because it has what looks like remnants of the old engine paint. It was also in the cup with flywheel bolts and other bolts from accessory brackets, etc when the PO must have been ripping things apart and gave up. I have five of them. Who knows how many there were originally. I thought they might have been the clutch pressure plate bolts initially because it and the flywheel had been removed, but they seem shorter than the new PP bolts I ordered (Mr. Gasket 910) and not sure that pressure plate bolts would have had engine paint on them anyway.

 

look like header bolts

 

I'm pretty sure your first guess is correct; pressure plate bolt. Should have been 6 of them. I have an original 360 in the garage that has the same reduced washer/head bolts holding the clutch to the flywheel. Yes, header bolts are the same style, but did someone install headers on yours? Stock manifolds used different/longer bolts.
-Donny

 

It seems that pressure plate bolts would usually not have AMC blue paint on them?? I definitely see paint in your photo.
If I remember correctly the factory pressure plate bolts on my 304 have a smooth surface head on then not sunken or recessed and had maybe a grade stamp also. Again that is if I am remembering correctly.
Maybe Donny can comment on this.

 

+1. Pressure plate. Can't explain the paint.

 

Looks to me like a ujoint strap bolt perhaps. It looks like it's only about 1/4" diameter or a bit less so don't think it's a pressure plate bolt but not sure.

 

I have some similar to fix my Meyer hard-top on the windshield!

 

Its very possible there were different bolts used throughout different producion years. My 360 with that type bolt I believe is from 1975 or 1976. Bolt size; 5/16-18 x 1"
-Donny

 

I know they are not exhaust manifold bolts because I have those and these are not quite long enough. These mystery bolts are 3/8”. After some more looking, I noticed five holes on the backside of the cylinder heads that I overlooked before. One side has three holes and the other side has two holes. The dimensions of the holes seem to check out. I’m wondering if this is where they were, and also what they secured if they were in fact used here. If so, that would explain the remnants of engine paint. Go easy on me purists, yes... that is “old Ford blue” paint on an AMC. We’re on a budget here.

 

Those hole on the back of the heads are not used, at least in that position. Heads are interchangable left, left or right. Those holes are for accessory brackets on the front of the engine. The back of the right head can become the front when on the left bank.
I've got a 304 on the engine stand and a 360 on the floor. I'll poke around to see if these 3/8" bolts are anywhere is see.
-Donny

 

Pressure plate bolt. Get new ones.

 

If it turns out to be the correct size to be a pressure plate bolt then I’d guess the paint is overspray from when the factory painted the engine as I don’t believe they painted them with the bellhousing installed.

 

Could they possibly be the bolts for the alternator mount plates/bracket to the block? They maybe 3/8.
Another thought. Is the engine you got with your jeep the original CJ engine? A doner engine might have had come from a vehicle with AC brackets bolted some where, and the brackets were discarded.
What about the bolts for the EGR valve and there is also a small bracket that holds an electric vacuum switch to the intake (near the right rear of the carb).
A possible engine to firewall ground strap bolt?
Several similar bolts could have been used in multiple places on the engine to simplify assy at the factory.
Besides it's a law of nature that you have some parts left over any time you complete a mechanic project.