steven89 said:
I have a question, how much boost can a stock HG and ARP studs handle?
The stock headgasket can hold more than what fuel cut allows. I have been running on 15 psi for 8 months and have raced the engine more then 15 times. Compression is still normal, no symptoms of a BHG. Hopefully the T4 doesn't kill it when I swap it in this springbreak though. haha. :evil2:
The key here is to install ARP "STUDS" correctly. My first OEM hg blew up at 11 psi because I didn't properly install the studs and they loosed up to 40 lbs. Second one I put in, the studs were installed correctly, but the timing plate cover was too high up and I didn't put any sealant between the cover and block, so it started leaking oil.
The last time I did the headgasket, everything went down perfect BESIDES maybe I got tired of paying the dealership $100 ($200 down the drain :nono: ) for a oem gasket and bought a $30 ebay headgasket. Unlike what most people assume, the ebay gasket is not that bad. It's equivalent to what the build quality of the OEM gasket is IMO. Has the graphite like covering and a metal porus internal sheet.
A lot of people think the OEM style gasket is weak because most people here are over boosting engines with 150k miles which of course will blow the original headgasket. Or are overboosting on a stock headgasket replacement with original head bolts, crappy head bolts in general, and a crappy prep job.
Overall message, stock headgasket will hold what the stock turbo can throw at it, up until my tested 15 psi anyway.
I will let you guys know how the "ebay" gasket holds up to the T4. :evil2: