Tuan Le

Hi guys,

Should I spend the extra money on the aftermarket head gaskets (COMETIC) or head bolts (ARP studs)??? I know, I know....in a perfect world, money would not be a problem and I would just buy the best of both, COMETIC head gaskets and ARP studs.

But back to the real world. I'm debating whether I should spend the extra money to buy COMETIC head gaskets over the GM stock gaskets, OR ARP studs over GM stock head bolts.

OR, is it not worth the $$$ to buy one aftermarket and use stock for the other...or vice versa.

My car is getting the stock heads swapped out with a set of ported heads soon. Also, there will be a 150-shot on top of the heads&cam. So I'm just trying to figure where I need to beef up. It wouldn't pretty to get a blown gasket.

Thanks
-Tuan

1999Daytona500PaceCar

iTrader: (2)

I would first say to do whatever it takes to do both and get everything right the first time and save yourself the frustration and extra cost of something failing down the road. I mean sell something, wait a little longer to do the install, work some extra hours - something. But if none of that is possible, then I would have to say get the gaskets, because you are right - it wouldn't be pretty to blow a head gasket. Also, the odds of blowing a stock head gasket in your application FAR outweigh the odds of having a stock stud fail. That is my view anyway. Good luck!

DriveATransAm

i agree with the gaskets (mostly cause they are reuseable). bolts cost what, 30-40 bucks vs 170 for the studs? plus you will be spraying so you want something that will hold good.

Nine Ball

iTrader: (38)

Get the head gaskets. You won't be making enough power to make the stock head bolts fail, I've even got the stock bolts on my motor.

Tony

Tuan Le

Thanks for all the responses, guys. <img border="0" alt="[chug]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_chug.gif" />