Wondering what y'all think about using stock, vs arp bolts or studs in a forced induction setup. When would you vote to use arp hardware and why?

 

ARP main studs and ARP head studs, I think bolts vs studs its just a matter of if your going to be taking them in and out, I don't like threads in the block wearing, recently I was forced to switch to rocker studs because my rocker bolt holes were getting bad.

 

Yup. With MLS cooper coated lightly with 11 psi of boost held perfect. When my new motor took a crap the heads had nothing. No seepage @ all. Im sold!

 

I'd go with studs since there is a possibility that you will be digging into the engine again in the future.

 

I already have ARP head bolts, I really don't plan on removing the heads over and over, if I have to (if I have problems), studs it is. I also have the 6.0L MLS gasket. I am kinda broken on the arp main studs/bolts.

 

studs

 

Well **** I don't PLAN on removing anything off my car, I just want it to work but in the forced induction world it seems like something always goes wrong.

 

LOL I knew that was coming... Loaded... Loaded I say.

 

With FI there is always a good chance that you will have to take everything apart in the future.

 

Go with ARP studs. When you run boost, it will be all you need for the time being. Then you will want more. Then more. Then more. Then you will be removing parts to see what broke.

 

Excellent way of looking at it, cheap insurance too I'm sure. =)

 

If you go with main studs then you should align hone since they will add a bit of distortion. Personally I think that bolts are good to 650 HP and are the best way to go anyway. Your call.

 

If you're having a new motor built, then it is a no brainer to put studs everywhere... I'd even think about it for the headers simply because when you eventually have to take it apart again you won't have to buy any bolts that way, and it makes putting headers on alot easier... ALOT.


I'm in the process of having a motor built now, and there will be studs thru the entire bottom end of the motor, holding the heads down, I'll probably pick up a set for the headers too while I'm at it just so it's easier later to swap them should the need arise.

Plus, with any performance build, the chances are that it will be built for that, performance, not like a factory engine that will run for 100+K, therefore requiring more maintenance... so to me, taking it apart again eventually is pretty much a given.

 

Trust me when I say, stud it now or pay dearly later!!! I recently had to get a new block because of the ARP bolts tearing up the threads in my block...this from having too take the heads off more than once. You never know ...so it's better to be safe than sorry, not to mention keeping that money for something else.

 

your old block was reusable.. you could have had it drilled and tapped for 1/2 inch studs...... I would have fixed it.

 

I made a deal with a guy to port my heads in exchange for the block, I pay shipping, blah blah blah. I'll just put a set of arp studs in it and call it done, better safe than sorry, like you guys said.

 

Agreed... I'll put arp studs in and call it done... I'm going back to manifolds, which are easy to install with bolts, but will definitely consider studs on those also.

 

Go w/ the ARP studs. I have a friend we were doing motors about the same time and when I orders mine he was too cheap and told me I was stupid for buying them and it was a waste of money. The stock ones were fine to use and they are uder rated by everyone. A few months later he blew a head gasket and in the middle of his tear down broke a stock head bolt half way in the block. Now he tells me he should have ordered the ARP stud kit.

 

go with the studs

 

Another vote for the studs...trust me, if you ever have to pull a head for some reason, you'll be glad you're not cleaning bolts holes...

I know I was...