I'm about to boost my LS motor and as a preventitive measure i bought some arp's.

Now, i just replaced my headgasket a month ago. So, i don't want to have to replace my HG again if the following or similar is a proven method to install the studs with out having to replace the HG.

Can i just take out all of the stock head bolts and then install the arp's, simple as that?(of course careful not to shift the head)

Can i take out one head bolt at a time and install the arp's to the first torque spec, then once all of the arp's are in, finish the torquing process?

Or has anyone tried these or other methods to installing new head studs?

 

u cant shift the head if u dont lift it because of the dowel pins

the head does raise a tad when u losen all the bolts and sometimes the gasket ***** up

i say boost what u got now and if it leaks replace everything all together

 

I thought about that at first, but after considering that i reused the stock head bolts and will be boosting in the 12psi+ range i'm not sure i want to go ahead and blow it. i'm shooting for 300whp and on a stock motor a simple short over heat issue could really damage my motor.

 

bump!

 

once the hg is 'untorqued' and then retorqued, whether you lift the head or not, it's the same as taking the head off basically. not to mention, you have to hand tighten the arp's down before putting the nuts on and torquing them, it will prolly be kind of hard to fit your hand in the head bolt holes if you try to leave the head on :P like already mentioned, i would run it as is and if your hg blows, then replace it and the arp's at the same time.

 

I have done the ghetto ARP install method on a few DSM's and its always worked. Basically you take ONE bolt out at a time (in torque sequence) and replace ONE stud at a time. My old car's still on the stock HG and 30+ lbs of boost

 

That sounds like a viable idea to me. Take one bolt out, put teh new stud in and torque it then move to the next one. Shouldnt be any head mov't if you do that....

 

This works but no gaurantees, did it on my buddy's z6 motor and it held up for 20k or so before the rod decided to leave the block.

 

this is my vote as well. toss an extra 5lb-ft on the stockers and run it til it pops.