3.5L Aluminum Valve Cover Bolts

[AlekAuto]

Hey, everyone. New to the forum.
I'm currently recording a video that goes through everything you need to know to swap the 2002 plastic valve covers for some 2001 aluminum ones. It's a bit less straightforward than you'd initially expect, so I wanna be able to get into all the details.
I've got basically everything down; the spark plug seals, the different ignition coils, all that good jazz, but there's one major issue I've run into: the valve cover bolts are different.
The 2002 model doesn't use grommets, while the 2001 model does. The 2002 bolts don't fit into the 2001 grommets.
Nissan calls these grommets "washers", and they're part number 13268AD200 .
However, what I can't seem to track down is the actual valve cover bolts themselves. You'd think that'd be fairly easy to find, but I can't find them anywhere. I think they're part number 13224AD200 , but I'll be honest, I'm not even 100% certain what I'm looking for. Are they just skinnier versions of the 2002 bolts, or are they normal bolts that don't have a step up in size, like Toyota valve cover bolts? Could I find bolts with the same thread pitch and get 'em from Home Depot, or am I gonna have to track down the actual original bolts? Given that they're aluminum, I'm a lot more worried about them stretching or cracking if I just skip the grommets entirely. Anything that comes with grommets should use the grommets.
Any help on how to track these down, what substitutes can be used, or just a picture of what the 2001 bolts even look like would be great. Thank you.
 

[Slartibartfast]

 

Looks like you're correct on that part number. Nissanpartsdeal shows two listings for an '01, but one is listed up to '08, suggesting that's the later style. 13224-AD200 (replaced by 13224-AD20A) does not cross to later years, suggesting it's the one you're after. Both listings have pictures of bolts, though I'm not sure how far I trust the pictures. They look about the same to me. Also used, which is odd. The -AD200 bolts are more expensive than the later -AL601 bolts, which I guess makes some sense with them being one-year-only--but good lord, $8.60 each when you need twenty of them is some BS, especially when the grommets cost about the same. Amayama's got them cheaper, but probably still more than you were hoping to pay for a handful of bolts.

 

I guess you could order one, confirm it fits, measure it, and then try and find something that'll work from some other make/model. Off-the-shelf bolts with spacers cut from tubing (or maybe a standard-length threaded standoff?) would probably do fine. Just gotta match the original dimensions so the sleeve fits in the grommets, and doesn't stop the bolt before the valve cover gaskets are adequately compressed.

[AlekAuto]

On 6/30/2025 at 4:42 AM, Slartibartfast said:

13224-AD200 (replaced by 13224-AD20A) does not cross to later years, suggesting it's the one you're after. Both listings have pictures of bolts, though I'm not sure how far I trust the pictures. They look about the same to me.

 

Off-the-shelf bolts with spacers cut from tubing (or maybe a standard-length threaded standoff?) would probably do fine.

 

Some guy on the NICO forum said they were actually just standard M6-1.0 bolts, and he ended up being right; turns out, I had 8 of them in my toolbox this entire time and just didn't know what they were until someone told me I was looking for the wrong thing.

For any future-people who're finding this post having the same strange issue as me, the concrete answer is M6-1.0x30mm with 10mm heads. Technically, you could probably get away with something slightly different, like ones with 6mm heads, but on something like valve cover bolts, it's best to match the original as closely as possible to avoid any issues (ex. clamping force being ever so slightly different with a different diameter bolt).
 

It was actually somewhat difficult to track all of these bolts down.  I ended up using AutoZone NeedaPart bolts, not the best in the world, but a hell of a lot better than the "mostly correct" Menards and Home Depot offerings.
Home Depot was out of them, Menards only had ones with 6mm heads, even Fastenal doesn't stock them. Turns out, M6-1.0x30mm with a 10mm head is actually really rare. No wonder Nissan stopped making them, this must be the only thing they ever got used for.

[Slartibartfast]

Well that's easy, then!