Hey guys i just have a quick question about head studs. I came from having a 6.0L Ford 250 and if anyone knows anything about those the one big problem those engines always had was blowing the head gaskets which i did and it was a pain. I am just curious when head studs are necessary for this cummins engine? Had the truck for a while now and never thought of asking about this until now.

 

When you want to hit 50psi or exceed it head studs will then become a necessity...

 

X2 and they are great insurance

 

50psi giver take a few psi either way depends on the who was having a good day at work on the assembly line imo. Also cylinder pressure plays a good part in it also excessive amounts of timing will enhance the chances of blowing the headgasket with the right psi.

 

alright well it looks like i wont be needing them with the stuff i have.

 

I was talking to a Cummins mechanic today that told me that the stock studs can often be over a full torque wrench rotation loose. And checking the torque every couple years, especially on modded trucks, can be quite important. He suspected that often, when people go to twins or a big single, the stockers are way off and the head gasket will fail. Whereas if the stockers were tightened to spec, the gasket would have held. If I recall the conversation correctly, he felt that 500 HP should not be a problem for stock studs if they are to spec.

FYI

It was an interesting conversation, and a fair amount of the information, I hope I am passing it on correctly. I was struggling to understand a couple times.

 

im running 50 PSI and on stock head bolts, but im ordering studs tomorrow just to be safe.

 

What should the final torque on the stock bolts be? The manual says torque to 77 ft. lbs. then tighten an aditional 90*. How are the guys with boost and stock bolts doing them?

 

Just me, but I wouldn't "reuse" stock bolts... that torque to yield spec tells me this.... I'd hate to have a bolt snap off in the head....

 

Thanks guys for the help!

 

I got to say, I am not a Cummins tech. Like I said this info was per a conversation. I wonder what the torque spec is when one adds 90* to 77ft/lbs. Anyone know?

 

if you want to re-use stock bolts (after taking them out) you need to check them to make sure they are not over stretched........I say get studs and be done with it....for me studs are like gauges...cheap insurance.

 

I agree studs seem to be the way to go, but is it just me or is the price just outragous!!!!!! Arp race set studs for my race car were just under 100.00 i know theres a diff. in size, length, and poss. material but come on 400-500 dollars in insian for 26 suds IMO. Nearly 20 buck each, ......what about these A1 someone said they found them for 325???

 

I dont think there is a "number" in ftlbs....the spec is what it is...when you take a torque to yield bolt out you need to check the stretch before reusing it...if it was a FTlbs spec they would just have you torque it to the number....

 

studs=$400-$1000 depending on what studs you get....I dont think the price is that bad if it holds my 5-10k engine together.....we dont bat an eye at the $2000 dollar turbos that can blow our engines up...but we stress money on parts to make the engine last???
for me I would rather have built internals and no turbo...I must be crazy???