head questions

starscream5000

Senior VIP Member
Aug 23, 2006
6,359
0
36
Hot and Humid, KY
My first response would be to tell you to search, but I'd say ARP is littered in about every thread on here, so gleaning any useful info from them will be hard. A better buy price wise would be the bolts as they are slightly cheaper. Studs are the better choice though because they distribute the clamping force more evenly and can be torqued to a more accurate value. The proper torque for them would be 81 ft lbs with ARP moly lube.
ARP bolts are easier to install if you are doing this job with the engine still in the car (this I don't recomend if you are going MHG as you will have to pull the block and have it machined to the proper RA spec along with the head for that respective brand MHG you would go with. If you're doing the MHG, use studs, if you are doing a stock composite HG, then bolts will be easier to install while the engine is in the car. It's difficult to install studs with the engine still in the car because you have to take off the head, install the studs, then sit the head back on to the engine with the firewall being a PITA.
 

MmmBoost

DDS Performance
studs are reusable and can withstand a higher torque

at about $115 a set, you cant go wrong

a good trick for the studs install in car is to install all the studs except the back 2, and once the head is on, screq in the back 2 studs. just dont forget to put the washers on the head first before lowering it down onto the block.
 

starscream5000

Senior VIP Member
Aug 23, 2006
6,359
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36
Hot and Humid, KY
That and taking the hood off (if you haven't done so already). I'd buy a used set of ARP studs over a brand new set any day of the week as long as they weren't damaged and torqued and stalled properly ;).
 

jdub

Official SM Expert: Motor Oil, Lubricants & Fil
SM Expert
Feb 10, 2006
10,730
1
38
Valley of the Sun
ARP bolts are also re-usable, however, the studs are a better choice for the reasons previously mentioned. I'll 2nd the motion for used ARP studs...they have already been heat cycled eliminating the need for a re-torque after the HG is installed.
 

CBLEGUY

Organic90T "Growin Roots"
Nov 24, 2006
127
0
0
Cape Coral, Florida
I used the studs, and have in several other applications. The only drawback in the supra is the firewall as mentioned before. you will not be able to seat the head with the motor in the car, and can possibly scratch/damage the head when you put it back into the car.

ARP hardware is "good stuff"