Am I crazy for even considering this... ARP head stud related

[Russell]

Now, this may be a foolish idea, but can a guy pull a single head bolt out at a time and replace it with an ARP stud without replacing the headgasket itself?

I am turbo charging the unit, and would prefer to prevent the possibility of blowing a head gasket as best I can, but as far as I can tell, this engine has been rebuilt in the very recent past, and would prefer not to be tearing the heads all the way off if I can prevent it...

 

[Wrench]

You're supposed to loosen and retorque all the bolts in a specific pattern, so I'd loosen all the bolts in the correct pattern first, not sure how precise that would have to be. Then replace each bolt, and retorque according to spec . . .

'Course, if you're only doing one bolt at a time it probably wouldn't be an issue. Might want to pm 4x4HIGH on that, seems like he really knows his stuff when it comes to engines.

Other than that I'm not sure why it wouldn't work . . .

 

[rjfguitar]

Shouldn't be a problem at all, guys do it putting in head studs in the Dodge Cummins all the time.

 

[DEMON44]

I did the ARPs in my ISB head that way. Don't mess with releasing the clamp load on the head gasket unless you intend to change it. Then do 3 or 4 retorques after the first 3 or 4 heat cycles.


you know come to think of it......I belive the ARP instructions I had say to do it this way as an optional procedure. I might still have it some where.

 

[Russell]

well, at least I am not totally off my rocker with this... If a guy did go this route, how would you go about torquing the bolts up? Just torque it to the full rating right off the bat?

 

[DEMON44]

Yes they're supposed to be stepped in 3 steps as is with any head fasteners. And when you retorque you are supposed to back the nut off and bring back up to torque.

........and I have touched 60 psi boost on it with the twin turbos, No major catastrophic events yet.

 

[MaxPF]

You really should replace the head gaskets with the latest Fel-Pro 6.5 gaskets (NOT the 6.2 gaskets) if you are going to turbo it. They have a steel shim sandwiched in the middle of them to resist blowing out under severe loads. If you're going to all the trouble anyway it makes sense to do it right

 

[Russell]

Good point, just kinda hoping to get this thing installed not this coming weekend, but the one after, and figure its easy enough to switch over to a 6.5L head, and GM8 turbo later on down the road should something go on me