Several months ago I installed ARP Studs because I was installation compound turbos and a few other performance items. For a while everything worked great. A couple of weeks ago I began to notice antifreeze all over my engine compartment. So I assumed I blew a head gasket.

I did a pressure test on the cap and then the system. Both tested great.

So I removed valve cover, et cetera and retorqued the studs. They definitly needed it. When I installed the studs I followed the instructions and there was nothing said about retorquing studs after several heat cycles. It should be stated.

I test drove my truck, pushing the power. No leaks! No loud noises from air escaping between head and block (that noise was another issue, we thought it might be air escaping the hot pipe between the turbos -- issue solved).

This is great. Now I can get my first dyno done.

 

Got to love the MLS gasket. If that was an old school 24V gasket you would have shot pieces of gasket out of the front of the head.

 

what did you torque to on your first go round?

 

I did the following originally in steps:

50lbs
90lbs
110lbs
126lbs

 

Same tourque wrech?

 

When you first installed the studs did you touque them up to spec 3X per stud? I'm going to be installing studs soon and was hoping that if I followed that technique I would not have to retorque again.

 

Hello,

Don't skip re-torquing! It may been needed a third time as well.

Damon

 

Originally I torqued them in stages, 3x each stage.

I used moly lube.

I used a Snap On torque wrench.

After this Summer I may torque them a third time. It doesn't take long.

 

the new instructions that they ship with them tell you to re toque them.

 

everything i have read and the friends of mine that have put the head studs on have re-torqued them after a month or so. I dont know if it does or doesnt state in the manual but it is something everyone i know has done.

 

Do they need to be done after a certian number of heat cycles, miles, or what? What's the determining factor on when they need to be retorqued and how many times?

 

How much will these gaskets take with just studs? I didn't fire ring or nothing when I did mine and push my truck up to 60 pounds and a little over ever now and then. Will they hold that kind of boost for a long time?

 

I am getting ready to stud my engine and was wondering were might I find the best instructions for runing the valves after the install. Thanks Jason

 

Many many many OEM MLS gaskets live fine day in and day out in the plus 85 psi range as long as they were installed correctly.

 

Mine has seen 85psi a few times with just ARP studs...