Stock headbolts

You can run stock head bolts over torqued and live for a while. If you purchase a cummins head kit, they usually come with a stretch gauge. Use that to see how stretched your bolts are to determine if they need replaced. I've torqued them to 145 and they held until compounds were put on. We have quite a few 400-500hp trucks running around with stock head bolts, but each guy knows he's on borrowed time. LOL I know Darren, Garmon, Keating, and even Phil run stock head bolts, it works for them, but I wonder how long they work? Those guys are making a lot of boost and I just can't see the stock bolts holding all that long. Do they replace them each time they are torn down? I'm guessing not. I know I'm going to get flamed over it, but oh well. I'm sure the lower compression helps a lot and the boost pressure probably brings cylinder pressures near what a stock compression engines cylinder pressures are, and that's how they last? I saw one last weekend that had stock HB's and the HG was leaking oil out of the front. So maybe they'll live in a drag truck like that, but maybe not on a street truck?
 
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I torqued my stock bolts on my 12v to 150ft. lbs. in 5lb. increments and they had 330,000 miles on them at the time, it has worked fine for the last year. But then I only run 55-60 pound of boost in that truck!
 
see i really thing it depends in set up. i know of a kid running a 478 as a single with stock gasket and bolts. he turns 5k with stock valve springs to
 
97rada said:
see i really thing it depends in set up. i know of a kid running a 478 as a single with stock gasket and bolts. he turns 5k with stock valve springs to
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I don't believe the valvrsprings. What stall converter?

Sent from my phone.
 
not sure i didnt get that far with him but he destroyed a billet imput and tthe converter and going phat shaft
hell around here anything happens peoople tow with 71s
 
97rada said:
see i really thing it depends in set up. i know of a kid running a 478 as a single with stock gasket and bolts. he turns 5k with stock valve springs to
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then that's what I would recommend for anybody... no need for fancy pants valve springs and cylinder head fasteners!
 
Forrest Nearing said:
and that explains why...

I wish people would quit recommending stock head bolts to guys running stock compression ratios :(
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well for guys that are 550 and lower that extra 400 bucks is sure useful when put towards a clutch instead of studs.

97rada said:
see i really thing it depends in set up. i know of a kid running a 478 as a single with stock gasket and bolts. he turns 5k with stock valve springs to
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have him pull the rocker off and show you the tops of his valve stem..... then tell me how good 5k is with stock springs. I know at just under 4k i pitted mine pretty good. that wasnt even pushing it hard all the time.
 
97rada said:
see i really thing it depends in set up. i know of a kid running a 478 as a single with stock gasket and bolts. he turns 5k with stock valve springs to
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I know guys too that would tell me they are running 35-36 mph down the track, yet I was beating them with a 27mph wheel speed. LOL Take things that people tell ya with a grain of salt. Usually they don't have a clue, and are just trying to impress.
 
like i said. i would like to get real cummins stock parts but found out they wanted $250.00 for their headgasket/ or head set? not 100% sure on which one. all this is is to get me by long enough so i can build my other 12v motor.

called up to oriellys. 44.00 for a fel-pro headgasket.

that $ is a lil low in bank. lol
 
Fel-Pro head gasket is junk. Good luck with that! Contact Snedge on here and he can get you a better price on QUALITY parts. And for what it's worth, guys spinning 4k or higher, especially with high boost, are just asking for it with stock keepers and retainers. Let alone stock springs.
 
you would be wise not to waste 44 bucks on a felpro

you dont need the 250 cummins hg kit, just the hg
 
i put in a fine chinese head gasket a couple of weeks ago. but we did use new bolts. i only torqed them to 125
 
DieselWrencher said:
Fel-Pro head gasket is junk. Good luck with that! Contact Snedge on here and he can get you a better price on QUALITY parts. And for what it's worth, guys spinning 4k or higher, especially with high boost, are just asking for it with stock keepers and retainers. Let alone stock springs.
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he knows he has studs and spring and a good amount of other prts. just has not put them on. he breaks sh!t alot...like5 ish imputs
 
I used to say felpro was junk also. Saw one in one of the diesel mags the other day and it looked to be redesigned. Id like to take another look at felpro after seeing it. I have used many victor gaskets and had no problems. I run my personal truck ( a 12v) o-ringed with .010 wire protrusion, a victor gasket, and stock reused head bolts at stock compression. I have a HE351VE and HT3B twin setup that has been past 60 psi more than once. I will say though, as others have mentioned, I'm ready to put a head gasket on it if it ever blows and wouldn't be upset if it did.
 
Stock USA made Cummins gaskets from the 90's is where it's at.... Junker Drag Truck, OEM 95' gasket with 241,000 miles and original stock head bolts never removed, just overtorqued. 85psi boost, 26* timing, still perfectly in-tact.
 
Big Blue24 said:
Stock USA made Cummins gaskets from the 90's is where it's at.... Junker Drag Truck, OEM 95' gasket with 241,000 miles and original stock head bolts never removed, just overtorqued. 85psi boost, 26* timing, still perfectly in-tact.
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This... If it working why try to fix it?
 
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