Okay, guys, what boost pressures would you say the following methods of securing the head will hold:

1. stock headgasket / stock head bolts
2. stock headgasket / 12mm studs
3. o-rings / stock head bolts
4. o-rings / 12mm studs

Chris

 

Boost has less to do with what system will hold what than overall HP and at what RPM range that power is made.

Its about BMEP and PEAK effective pressure. 12 valves with tons of timing and less than 30 PSI can pop a headgasket in seconds. The reason is the PEAK pressure pounding away on the flange.

3rd gens trucks can run insane HP levels with their softer combustion. Its less PEAKY and more constant.

I know guys that run 70 plus PSI on a stock gasket with o-rings and use stock bolts.

I ran a stock gasket with no orings and stock bolts for 3 years without failure.
The engine was seeing 65-73 PSI. Most of that was blowing past the grooves in the cylinder walls, but thats for another post

Anyway, provided the machine work is done right...Stock bolts will do a great job.

Don~