So today was supposed to be the day to fire up my car for the first time. Before we did I decided to take a VC off and just check everything torque wise. I went over the cam caps, and then the headstuds torqueing to 85lbs. Finished pretty much all of them and then I went to do one of the middle ones and SNAP

I'm not sure I understand whats going on here. Is 85ft/lbs too much? I've seen these torqued to as much as 90ft/lbs I had some new ones over nighted from maperformance and it'll be good to go tomorrow.

Do you guys think I got faulty headstuds? The torque wrench I used is a Snap on electric one that vibrates when torque is reached...

 

I have done a DSM upto over 110 ft.lb. using ARP studs.
Are you still using stock fasteners? Did you correct assembly grease?

 

yup, I did everyting per instructions from ARP. So now I have some new ones coming in the main tomorrow. Should I just replace this one, or go ahead and do all of them?

Pic of said damage

 

You should be fine just replacing the broken one.
I would like a pic of that Snap-on electric unit. Sounds interesting!
I usually do mine with TWO manual wrenches just to verify each other.

 

Probably a silly question, but was your torque wrench accurate? Your torque wrench could be the problem

 

Thats a good idea. I'm going to take mine to my snap on dealer and have his check it.

Same as stated above. I dont see it being too off though. It's a $1200 tool all by itself

 

If you find that your other studs may have been over-torqued at any point in their life (i.e. torque wrench being off, previous owner/shop overtightening) then you should replace them all as they all may have some plastic deformation and will not provide proper sealing pressure.

 

Was this the first time you've ever torqued that certain set of ARP's? If you reused them, then go ahead and replace them all and use a new head gasket since they crush and can only be compressed once. I recently reassembled my friend's car and torqued the studs to 93 ft/lbs in increments (30-60-80-92-run the car to break in the cams-93) using ARP moly assembly lube on the nuts and washers while screwing the studs into the head dry.

 

+1, replace them all. I don't trust ARPs anymore after they've been used once. I have AMS/TMS L19's now and they should be good for a while

 

I think I'll just replace them one by one torquing back down to 85ft/lbs as to make sure the headgasket doesn't fail. The motor hasent been run yet so I would not imageing any problems with this.

Are you guys saying I should be torquing these to 93ft/lbs as stated by S2kracka?

 

Agreed. Standard ARPs are hit or miss, especially in a situation like yours where it looks like they may have been overtorqued. Pick up a set of L19s and be done with it.

 

Yeah ****ty situation for sure. Hopefully the new ones will be okay. We'll see

 

That is a snazzy torque wrench, fo sho. Even allows you to torque in degrees. It's all electronic, ie no returning to minimal pressure for storage. What have you torqued with this wrench? Before I started my cash pit, I'd have that wrench calibrated, and if it's off, re-do all of the items torqued with it. Over torque is bad, and so is uneven torqued bolts. GL man

 

Yeah it also tells you by how much you over torque. sick tool

 

did you use moly lube or motor oil?