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So i learned a lesson today. That I already knew but didn't go by. Don't be a cheap a**
I used some chinese head bolts a few years ago with a 5.3 I did and had good luck. Then i used real arps with my ls3 and torqued them over and over with no issues.
So a few weeks ago i bought a set of chinese studs off ebay a decided to buy the cheapest ones. I figured they are all from china so they are probably the same.
here is a link to the ones i bought they were only $45
After receiving them. They came in an envelope with no other packaging. I noticed several of them didnt have the allen head cut into the top. That should have been a red flag but i installed them anyway because i was trying to make it to a cruise in this week.
I tried to torque them and when I got to 50lbs several of them just kept turning and wouldnt torque. I decided to stop while I was ahead and before they broke.
I then ordered a set of speedmaster headstuds from jegs for $95
They came in today and they are noticably different then the first one. But after installing them while on the 70lb step I snapped one off in the block. crap!!
I called jegs and they were no help other than setting up a return.. and they wanted $370 for arp's
I spent the next 3 hours getting the stud out of the block.
Anyway I ended up ordering a set of arps from summit for $320 Which i should have bought to begin with. Now im not gonna make the cruise in this weekend and I spent the money anyway plus wasted alot of time .
Damn. I feel your pain. I did the same thing with trans parts. Cost me about $1200 in parts and had to end up buying the expensive parts I was trying to avoid buying.
I bought the speedmaster studs from jegs also. As soon as I took them out of the package I noticed the nuts were very thin and cheap looking. Once I screwed the nut onto he stud it would actually wobble on the stud. Sent them back and ordered the ARP and there was no comparison in quality.
why are the arp LS head studs 3x the cost of SBC and BBC head studs? Thats what i dont understand.
I have used a few sets of $100 head studs in the last few years and had good luck so far. About 8 years ago i had one break a little while after being torqued down and shoot across the shop though.
I used the Jegs Speedmaster studs when I put my motor together and they did well until I really started putting the boost to it trying to get into the 9's. Should've went with ARP..... which I am this time around.
I have done this same thing with China studs and ARP's. I believe the cause to mainly be user error.
I can assure you that this wasnt caused by user error. This was because of an inferior product. Like i said, i have successfully used china studs in the past, but never again will i risk it.
Arp sells 100 dollar set of head bolts for ls engines. The bolts are just as strong as the studs. Race cars use studs to save on wear and tear of the threads in the block not because they are stronger. Plus if i used studs in my car id never get the heads off in chassis if i hurt a gasket or something. Ive never understood why everyone goes with studs.
Arp sells 100 dollar set of head bolts for ls engines. The bolts are just as strong as the studs. Race cars use studs to save on wear and tear of the threads in the block not because they are stronger. Plus if i used studs in my car id never get the heads off in chassis if i hurt a gasket or something. Ive never understood why everyone goes with studs.
Yes and no. Think about this for a second. The bolt material may be the same. But what would give you better clamping force.....a bolt being screwed into flexible, soft, gallable aluminum and then factor in bolt twist from the whole length...,..or screwing a hard fine thread nut onto a stud and there’s less friction and less twisting. Much better accuracy. No contest.
Noy saying your wrong kx cause you do make sense buy which would you choose 100 set of arp head bolts or a cheap set of china studs. I know what id do. Still couldnt use studs on my car cause of the strut towers. Plus ive made over 1000hp with stock bolts little lone arp bolts.
Noy saying your wrong kx cause you do make sense buy which would you choose 100 set of arp head bolts or a cheap set of china studs. I know what id do. Still couldnt use studs on my car cause of the strut towers. Plus ive made over 1000hp with stock bolts little lone arp bolts.
this....
i want 750 and im sure stockk would be more than fine .
There's a thread on here where they tested factory head bolts against china studs and ARP studs and the factory bolts were stronger or held more pressure than the china studs.
There's a thread on here where they tested factory head bolts against china studs and ARP studs and the factory bolts were stronger or held more pressure than the china studs.
We should find it and also we should make a new sticky i guess with new updated information and such .
my ARP's came in today. And guess what. They all torqued perfectly. They are noticeably different. The nuts are alot larger requiring a larger socket and the washers are larger. The finish is alot smoother and their is no burs on any thing. They were noticably tighter in the block.
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Learned a valuable lesson about chinese junk 
