Ive really been thinking about the actual need for ARP head studs, and most people swear that you need them (or you should anyway) if youre running high boost.

Does anyone have any hard data that these are actually needed? I have my car apart right now and methanol injection is going on the car and 27-28psi is coming my way

Im very interested to know if I need these... or I DONT. Thanks fellas.

 

HS w/o HG change = leak

 

Way to answer his question...

Anyway, I've heard running more than 25 you'll need headstuds (or want headstuds), but it is preventative maintenence, so you don't HAVE to do it... (Plus, I'm no expert either)

 

boost won't lift the head, but detonation will. Obviously the possibility of detonation increases with boost, but with the proper tune, the cylinder pressures from good combustion at elevated boost levels won't be enough to mandate head studs. If you have a good tune, you'll be fine at 27-28 psi.

 

Thats the response I was looking for and also what I was thinking in my head. I was wondering mainly if it was the boost itself that was going to do that or other factors.

 

Good answer Dubbleugly01... Detonation with combustion pressure within the cylinder gives the head its problems.. not exactly boost as everyone seems to think.. I personally installed studs only because I did have a leak after pressure testing each one.. 175/175/100/175.. so, I changed to Power Enterprise Gasket and ARP Headstuds.. over 10K mi. later, no probs.. anyway, good luck.. Mike

 

If the car is apart and the head is off, you might as well do head studs. I have done 2 sets of headstuds this week and have another next week. They are good and they work well when you do it the right way by taking the head off the car. Detonation is the number one factor of blowing headgaskets this we know but with studs you will have added protection.

 

If the head is already off, head studs are an inexpensive upgrade that widens your safety margins and cost much less than having to take the head off, just in labor and aggravation alone.

 

I have seen threads about gasket failures due to inpropper stud installs. There are very few threads about stretched stock head studs, and, as was previously mentioned, none that I can remember caused by just running high boost.

If you are going to do studs just make sure you do it correctly

 

ha then why does ultimate cc...silver vendor say that head studs or over rated and the stockers for fine...al at dynoflash charges 250 i believe but he doesnt take the head off

 

Head studs are overrated. When you actually need them is up for debate. Everyone just is under some impression they are incredibly mandatory, however lots of people dont install them and run high boost just fine. Another problem is by doing the 1x1 method.. it CAN be screwed up rather easily and then youll end up f*cking **** up worse than if you just didnt touch it.

 

I have not spoken to one professional race team that feels this should be done, unless you pull the head. Furthermore as mentioned by previous posters, cylinder pressure can be far greater from improper detonation than by running 27 psi vs 24 psi. I am NOT doing headstuds on my car unless the head is off the car.

 

I thought exactly the same thing. But after running with meth, my mind quickly changed. My HG was leaking and needed head studs. It's been about 12k later and no problems since.

So for me, it was something I needed to do. Just thought I would share my personal experience. Maybe you won't need them....but it would be easier for you to put them in now, than to deal with it later.

 

Yeah I mean they are $100 or so and if you know how to put them in PROPERLY, they wont be a bad thing. Youre the first Ive heard of someone actually leaking at the HG from high boost. Ive had my car apart, including the entire head basically to do the timing belt and such and I got a pair for $87, so I have them in there now just because.

 

after about a year running 28-30 psi on a 20g, my head started leaking. Now im on a 35r on 31psi and no leaks. I wouldn't bother doing them unless you pull the head off...