Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

ARP head studs

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 22, 2003 | 02:37 PM
  #1  
JackZ28's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Veteran
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,469
Likes: 3
From: NW Houston
Default ARP head studs

Hey guys, if I'm using these, do I use the same torque specs as found on ls1how-to.com? I was doing my second 90* pass on 1-8, and on #7, I cracked the socket...

Please inform! Thanks!
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2003 | 02:42 PM
  #2  
FEAR THE LS1's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 1
From: Hot Rainy Humid +2000 DA South Florida
Default Re: ARP head studs

Torque in the order provided by the Helms manual, but NOT to their torque specs. Instead, for all larger studs, torque to 65 ft-lbs, then loosen, torque again to 65, loosen again, and torque one final time to 65. Do this procedure on each stud before moving on. This is called pre-stretching, it gives a more accurate long-term torque reading. For the smaller top row of bolts, torque to 22 ft-lbs using the same procedure above. These ones need a deep socket and/or extension to clear the heads. Note if you have an iron block, add 5 ft-lbs to both these numbers.

Loosen all the nuts by a few turns. Take your hex key/allen wrench and tighten all the studs down, the pre-stretching procedure can back them out a bit. You want to make sure the nuts are backed off enough so they don't stop the stud from bottoming out again.

Tighten all large diameter studs in the Helm order to 20 ft-lbs.

Tighten all large diameter studs in the Helm order to 40 ft-lbs.

Tighten all large diameter studs in the Helm order to 65 ft-lbs.

Go over them all again at 65 ft-lbs.

Wait 30 mins and make one final pass at 65 ft-lbs. Make sure you get NO give/movement on any of the nuts this time. If so finish this pass and repeat step 15 until there is no give.

Tighten the smaller studs to 22 ft-lbs in the Helm order. Go over them 1 or 2 more times.
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2003 | 02:54 PM
  #3  
JackZ28's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Veteran
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,469
Likes: 3
From: NW Houston
Default Re: ARP head studs

Thanks man. I will work on it tomorrow.
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2003 | 06:28 PM
  #4  
2001CamaroGuy's Avatar
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,766
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ USA
Default Re: ARP head studs

I was doing my second 90* pass on 1-8, and on #7, I cracked the socket...

NOOOOOOO!!!!!

you don't use the torque to yield specks (90 degree stuff) with non torque to yield bolts/studs (ARP products)!!!!!

you use the torque specks that are on the back of the ARP box....
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2003 | 08:12 PM
  #5  
Country Boy's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,034
Likes: 1
From: Tampa, FL
Default Re: ARP head studs

Fear: Where'd you get that info from?
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2003 | 03:02 AM
  #6  
SSG-Z28's Avatar
TECH Resident
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 781
Likes: 0
From: Kaiserslautern, GE
Default Re: ARP head studs

I'd like to know myself..
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2003 | 03:07 AM
  #7  
2001CamaroGuy's Avatar
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,766
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ USA
Default Re: ARP head studs

that’s a pretty standard torque sequence.....

you start out at about 1/3 to the final torque speck.....then do 2/3 final torque speck.....then finally do the full torque speck....

then you remove the bolt/nut and redo it 3 or 4 times (total process) before your finished....


this lest the bolt stretch even and gives you an accurate torque speck.....
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2003 | 03:11 AM
  #8  
SSG-Z28's Avatar
TECH Resident
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 781
Likes: 0
From: Kaiserslautern, GE
Default Re: ARP head studs

Hey man, on the box, it says that the specs provided are just general specs, not application-specific.. What does that mean, exactly?

BTW, my last name is Fountain. Kind of funny, huh??
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-6

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
Old Jul 23, 2003 | 06:55 AM
  #9  
Country Boy's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,034
Likes: 1
From: Tampa, FL
Default Re: ARP head studs

Im curious because he says to torque it all down and then loosen and retorque. You cant torque a head head gasket and compress it and loosen the the head and retorque it. It messes up the head gaskets because they are already compressed and may not seal right anymore. That would be a good procedure to use if you had the cometic HGs as they are reusable. Stock gaskets arent. You torque it once and if you loosen it, the gaskets are done, they dont recompress

Thats why I was asking.
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2003 | 02:33 PM
  #10  
2001CamaroGuy's Avatar
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,766
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ USA
Default Re: ARP head studs

Hey man, on the box, it says that the specs provided are just general specs, not application-specific.. What does that mean, exactly?


you still want to use those numbers (its your best bet).....

ARP figured out that for a 13mm bolt going into aluminum, it needs "X" amount of torque to reach the required pre-stretch.....



Im curious because he says to torque it all down and then loosen and retorque. You cant torque a head head gasket and compress it and loosen the the head and retorque it. It messes up the head gaskets because they are already compressed and may not seal right anymore. That would be a good procedure to use if you had the cometic HGs as they are reusable. Stock gaskets arent. You torque it once and if you loosen it, the gaskets are done, they dont recompress

Thats why I was asking.

I guess in reality, if you really wanted to do a good torque sequence, you would install the heads with the old gaskets, torque your studs 4 or 5 times, then replace the gaskets (install the new) and do your final torque....



The way I did it was to not remove all the nuts....rather I did the torque sequence through once, then I went one stud at a time and torqued it 3 times (loosen, torque, loosen, torque, loosen, torque....move to the next) so I always kept pressure on the gasket.

When I was done with that, I followed through the torque sequence with the final spec ARP said to hit and checked every bolt.....


so....who knows.....I have almost 8 months of some heavy footed driving on the car and still no problems.....
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2003 | 02:45 PM
  #11  
Country Boy's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,034
Likes: 1
From: Tampa, FL
Default Re: ARP head studs

So, is that ARPs procedure then up there ^^^ ? I couldnt find it anywhere on their site
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2003 | 05:43 PM
  #12  
2001CamaroGuy's Avatar
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,766
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ USA
Default Re: ARP head studs

good question.....

thats what I "complied" from just about every artical/post/book/etc. I could get my hands on when I was preparing to do my head/cam swap....

if you have a copy of the september 2003 Chevy High Performance, they have a write up titled The Strong Survive, Installing Engine Fasteners Correctly (throughout the entire engine) and 99% of it is dealing with ARP bolts/studs. They don't deal with gaskets but they do say that ARP says to do 5 torque sequences (torque, loosen, torque, loosen, etc..) on their bolts/studs.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:34 AM.

story-0
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-1
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-3
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-6
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-7
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-8
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE