VerdeZ28

im doing a head swap on my ls1 98 camaro while the engine is still inside the car, I want to know which head bolts are best in this situation. should stick with the stock head bolts and just get new ones of those, or upgrade to ARP head bolts? i would prefer head studs but i dont know if they would allow e to swap the heads with the motor in the car.

buschmec

i'll catch hell for suggesting it but the ebay studs ($80) are swedged with allen heads, i believe you could swap the heads in the car, hang the heads on the small upper studs, roll the longers in with an allen, then add the nuts and torque.........just take your time to make sure the studs are lubed good on both ends so that they do not bind going in.....

parks450

iTrader: (17)

No eBay ones......for and extra 30-40 get arps from vengeance or summit etc. If you don't plan on taking the heads off again go with GM TTY bolts, arps are reusable.

SUPERBOOST

iTrader: (11)

Go arp's and have peace of mind,Its worth 20-30 bucks extra. Factory bolts are good but there a pain in the *** to torque and if you have to take them loose for any reason you have to throw them away.

S10xGN

iTrader: (11)

Where are ya'll fiinding ARP studs for $30 or 40 more than $80? I'm seeing $260+ for ARP's...

1999BlueTA

iTrader: (34)

^^^Lol wow iwas thinking the samething, you guys must be talking about bolts definately not studs!!!

buschmec

they are refering to bolts, sorry but i'll take the ebay studs over the bolts anyday. the only issue i've seen on anyones results with the ebay stud kit is the guy who tried to torque the studs into the block using the allen head to 50 lbs. (he's an idiot). know of 4 sets local one of them being mine that work just fine and had zero fitment or performance problems.......arp is overpriced, sorry but facts are facts, the ebay studs work.

chrisfrost

iTrader: (8)

To the OP You can remove the heads with the engine in car if You have studs ,,,,,just remove the nuts , then remove the studs and then the heads . To re-install just put the heads on top of the gaskets on the locating roll pins then install the studs by hand and make sure they're in as far as they're supposed to be , then washers n nuts or just nuts whichever and torque .

mebuildit

Get ARP and forget about it. They can be reused unlike the stock ones where you use them once and then toss them in the trash.

72_Cutlass_LS_Swap

iTrader: (1)

anybody have a link for the ebay studs everyone is talking about

gpr

iTrader: (6)

If your looking for the best like the title suggest ARP would be the choice. However has anyone ever had any issues with thes ebay studs? they seem to be a nice alternative and all i see is everyone recommend arp with no reason why other than a name.

I'd like to know if the ebay ones have ever broke, failed some way, or stretched????

RezinTexas

I guess it all depends on how much money you have invested in your engine.

For my project, a $200 difference (ARP vs ebay studs) is a drop in the bucket, by comparison. I have never heard of an ebay stud failure, but I will be going with ARP.

1999BlueTA

iTrader: (34)

^^^ I would like more info on these studs also!!!

purple98haz28

iTrader: (5)

what is the benefit of studs over bolts??? i plan on doing heads in the car but won't be pulling them back off anytime soon knock on wood. y are studs better? what do yall use?

S10xGN

iTrader: (11)

For one thing, you won't be twisting a steel threaded fastener into aluminum threads, but mainly, much more of the torque on your wrench will go towards "clamping" instead of going into "threading" the fastener into the block.

wayneSS

Nice! I need a set too

svede1212

iTrader: (3)

Exactly. You aren't grinding the threads into an aluminum block and you get a more accurate torque on the nuts than with bolts.

redbird555

iTrader: (14)

you guys know this thread is over 2 years old right? lol