OK this is probably a pretty dumb question.. but here goes..

Why are head studs better than bolts??

If the bolts and studs are the same grade or hardness why would the studs be better??

Gerry

 

I have always been told told that studs don't stretch as much and provide a better clamping force. ARP studs are made from far superior material than most bolts, and I use them exclusively in my race motors.

 

I was wondering this also as i read somewhere that with the right torque sequence a new set of head bolts holds just as well and i think they claimed better then head bolts....I think i read it some where on comp diesel. IDK

 

ARPs are a much better grade of steel than the stock head studs that come from DC. They are all actually studs, just of differing qualitlies

Kevin

 

kevin, my truck and all that i have here at work are Bolts, with a hex head on the top and thread into holes in the block. Well, technically they should be called screws. Bolts require a nut on them. but that neither here nor there.


a stud is better because you install it into the block with no force on the threads. then you tighten a nut on the threads at the top of the stud. there is just a straight pulling force on the block threads at that point. instead of a bolt which is pulling and has rotational friction on the threads.
the stud is made of better material and is better suited for those forces than the cast iron block.

 

you see this is why i love this site so much,very smart guys,and language a "caveman"can understand.

oh and thanx dodgzilla for you excellent post on high idle on cruise,i did it this weekend with your instructions.very cool mod.

 

The bolts (or screws) have to thread into tapped iron holes. It's better to screw in studs, that are not clamping the head while screwing in, and then screw on nuts. Studs get bottomed in the iron hole before any load is applied to them. The screwing action is against machined steel threads instead of cast iron holes. Studs are more consistant on the torque vs clamping force than iron tapped holes because the threads are more reliably smoother. If an engine gets rebuilt many times the iron tapped holes get weaker over time. And if a stud gets damaged it can be replaced.

John

 

you're welcome dave. glad it worked out.