VAP

The factory head bolts are supposed to be a non reuseable product as per the factory manual.
Are you guys replacing the head bolts ?
If replacing them - what are you replacing them with ?
Has anybody bought the ARP head stud kit yet ?
What is the Arp head stud kit worth ? USD
Does Arp do a head BOLT kit ?
What head gaskets are available ?

jmX

Nobody reuses used stock headbolts, no.
I replace mine with more stock ones.
Many people have used the ARP head stud kit.

Call agostino racing or MTI for some pricing on the ARP studs/bolts.

You can get GM gaskets from GM or napa, or ARE (agostono) has some fancy ones..there's probably a few others popping up out there too if you are doing a crazy forced induction setup. For the most part everybody just uses stock bolts and stock gaskets.

SixPak

when the head bolts are properly torqued they are 'stretched' slightly. to re-use them is begging for problems. a new set of bolts is cheap insurance. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

<img border="0" alt="[Corvette]" title="" src="graemlins/corvette.gif" />

phenyxTA

Get the head gaskets from napa online, they're like 12 bucks a piece.

MelloYellow

My mech and local machine shop weren't impressed with the head studs and wanted me to send them back. They said they were meant for racers that rebuild engines a lot and pull heads and want to re-use their studs/bolts without replacing them all the time.

They didn't feel the studs would help TQ the heads down more. They felt the problems encountering if wanting to remove the heads with the engine installed or trying to clean a gasket/block surface with them in would be a major PITA.

Just their opinion tho. They believe they were overmarketed re: holding heads down and that wasn't the main purpose. Re-use was.

VAP

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by phenyxTA:
<strong>Get the head gaskets from napa online, they're like 12 bucks a piece.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">12 Bucks for Genuine Head gaskets ? Awesome
Excuse my ingorance but I'm in Australia - Does NAPA have a web address or something ? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Raging Motorsports

Sure would make pulling the heads on and off a breeze though. No more coolant to try and clean out of the headbolt holes in the block!

Plan B

Long torque to yield bolts = <img border="0" alt="[barf]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_barf.gif" />

I use ARP studs with the new metal gaskets, No cleaning.

I’ve also just ordered the stud kit for the bottom end of my next engine... Torque angle gauge goes in the bin.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Metal gaskets are less than $60 here in OZ!

wicked 98z

Can you post the part # for the ARP head/main cap studs.

Thanks
Albert

VAP

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Plan B:
[
Metal gaskets are less than $60 here in OZ![/QB]</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Plan B who sells them ? What do you mean be metal ? Do you mean copper ? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Embarrassed]" src="gr_emb.gif" />

LS1derfull

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by MelloYellow:
<strong>My mech and local machine shop weren't impressed with the head studs and wanted me to send them back. They said they were meant for racers that rebuild engines a lot and pull heads and want to re-use their studs/bolts without replacing them all the time.

They didn't feel the studs would help TQ the heads down more. They felt the problems encountering if wanting to remove the heads with the engine installed or trying to clean a gasket/block surface with them in would be a major PITA.

Just their opinion tho. They believe they were overmarketed re: holding heads down and that wasn't the main purpose. Re-use was.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I wouldnt use a machine shop who cant see using head studs over bolts on a aluminum block with aluminum threads. Studs would definitely apply more clamping force and more evenly also. Block would be much more reliable with out straining threads, and since they are hand tight only , studs could be removed easily for cleaning block surface.There would be no chance of false torque readings and no chance of hydraulicing with studs.
Change shops IMO. Studs are the best.

MelloYellow

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>I wouldnt use a machine shop who cant see using head studs over bolts on a aluminum block with aluminum threads. Studs would definitely apply more clamping force and more evenly also. Block would be much more reliable with out straining threads, and since they are hand tight only , studs could be removed easily for cleaning block surface.There would be no chance of false torque readings and no chance of hydraulicing with studs. Change shops IMO. Studs are the best.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thx for the reply. Wasn't using the shop, the guy just dropped by and my mech knew him and asked his opinion. The shops kinda suck down here. I tend to give some leeway to my mech when I don't know 100%. Hate telling people how to do their job. But ya, the above makes sense. Cleaning shouldn't be an issue with MLS too. Hand tight makes more sense. ARP had mentioned using red loctite. I think that scared him too into the block. Also, he works full time on LS1's the last 5 years and has yet to have a gasket/bolt problem so wasn't super convinced it was worth the hassle. Also didn't want the Chevy dealer seeing the studs when the engine went back in the car. That could have had more to do with it than anythign else, LOL!

Plan B

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by VAP:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Plan B:
[
Metal gaskets are less than $60 here in OZ!</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Plan B who sells them ? What do you mean be metal ? Do you mean copper ? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Embarrassed]" src="gr_emb.gif" /> [/QB]</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Street Quick Performance. (Perth) Ask for John.

The new GM gaskets are magnetic therefor not copper.

Jackyl_30

I am getting the ARP head/main cap studs. They should be in next week. My setup is a high boost application so they were necessary.
The thing with head bolts is the bolt head itself is all that holds it on and when you torque the bolt it wants to resist the tighting motion causing internal stress on the bolt. Where as the head studs have more surface area to hold the torque. Studs are by far the most durable and safest way to hold the heads and main caps in place.

Head and main cap studs are running me about $600.

<small>[ April 27, 2002, 12:24 PM: Message edited by: Jackyl_30 ]</small>

phenyxTA

Should be napaonline.com . I'm pretty sure they're genuine GM. I'm getting the headbolts from a local dealer for like 1.50 a piece.

VAP

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Plan B:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by VAP:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Plan B:
[
Metal gaskets are less than $60 here in OZ!</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Plan B who sells them ? What do you mean be metal ? Do you mean copper ? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Embarrassed]" src="gr_emb.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Street Quick Performance. (Perth) Ask for John.

The new GM gaskets are magnetic therefor not copper.[/QB]</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You got a phone number for Street Quick Perf. ?