Are headstuds REALLY that nessisary?

I put studs in on my last build.

I have had a blown head gasket due to multiple nut failures. The distributor and manufacturer sent me new nuts that used a bigger socket. They told me that it was my fault for over-torquing them to 135ftlbs.

Now I am fighting oil leaks due to the nuts pushing the valve cover gasket under the valve covers.

My original stock bolts held 50 psi for 30,000 miles, at the stock 90ftlbs+90*
 
I've ran 45-50 pounds daily with stock head bolts torqued to 120 ft lbs, and thicker cummins gasket. Probably about 50k miles on it now, and not one sign of leakage. I think proper block / head prep has more to do then anything.
 
kalder said:
I put studs in on my last build.

I have had a blown head gasket due to multiple nut failures. The distributor and manufacturer sent me new nuts that used a bigger socket. They told me that it was my fault for over-torquing them to 135ftlbs.

Now I am fighting oil leaks due to the nuts pushing the valve cover gasket under the valve covers.

My original stock bolts held 50 psi for 30,000 miles, at the stock 90ftlbs+90*
Click to expand...

I've heard of a1 nut failures in the past but that's strange that you've had it happen more than once?

I have had mine torqued to 150 for nearly 2 years until this most recent build. They are now at 140 and still fine. *knock on wood

Also, I will second proper surface prep and flatness is absolutely paramount in longevity of a head gasket. More so than studs.

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk
 
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stock bolts/gaskets hold a LOT on a CR

if I'm doing studs, I'm doing ARP. Call me an old fuddy duddy, but they've been around a long time and aren't going anywhere anytime soon IMO
 
A1 has updated thier nuts quite a while ago. Instead of using a 12pt 9/16 socket, they now take a 5/8 socket. I got an old box.

I doubt they have nut failures anymore.
 
I was debating on running studs or stock bolts on my 96. At the moment I'm leaning towards doing ARP studs on at a time. Still running factory gasket.
 
I ran arp 2000's on my cr with a s300 over a ht3b and with the first set of injectors that were too big for a single cp3 I was pushing 74 psi but couldn't keep the injectors happy. Backed the sticks down to where it was happy and put alot of miles on the factory mls gasket at 65 psi with no problems. Pretty happy with them. I pulled them to 125. If someone is spending the money to fire ring or o-ring I think it is a no brainer to at minimum to use studs.
 
MLS gasket on the CR is a durable gasket from the factory. I run ARP 625's on my CR but the 12v you can sometimes get away from running studs.
 
I blew a headgasket shortly after I bought my trk, got a Lil thicker gasket, tourqed stock bolts down to 125 in three different pulls, and they've held 50-60psi the last 8 or 9 yrs.. now I got a small leak on passenger side by no. 2 cylinder... goin get head freshened up n checked out at shop then put the studs in I bought several yrs ago just never got around to doin it.
 
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