[sniperd]

Can you install head studs without taking the heads off? Or is it bad to decompress and re-compress a head gasket?


I want to install head studs but dont want to go through the whole trouble of removing the heads..

[86er]

I wouldnt, kinda defeats the purpose, taking chances on a gasket again

[sniperd]

Well, the gasket didnt blow. Im just trying to prevent that when I go turbo...

[86er]

my rule on head gaskets, once its torque, if its undone its gone. Others may have luck, but I dont chance it over a simple part

[sniperd]

yeah your right. I have dumped countless hours on preping this thing, why go lazy on the most important part.

[sniperd]

If im going to install a GT40 intake how much more work is it to install head gaskets?

Also - Do i need to take off the rockers, etc If im going to replace the head gasket or can i just pull the entire head off, put on the studs & new gasket and put the heads on?

A magazine article online had them removing everything from the heads to do this..

[flyin ryan]

Originally Posted by sniperd Well, the gasket didnt blow. Im just trying to prevent that when I go turbo...

whats good about stock gaskets and bolts is that if there's a problem and something has to blow it's just your head gasket not something more $$ but since your going with the studs anyhow I wouldn't half ass it. Just regasket them while you in there or else you'll end up popping sooner

[kilby91]

You need to remove everything off the heads to pull them.. Except springs..

And referring to your question about how much more work it will be after the intake. The hard part besides pulling the intake is just getting all the accessories and everything out of the way.. Also its good practice to place the push rods and rockers back in the same spot that they came out of, so label if you have to..

[flattusmaximus78]

What turbo set up will you run? Head studs is good money spent. No reason to not change out the gaskets though. From the heads up freshen it all up. Couldn't see it taking more then 5 or 6 hours in one day if you can remember were the accessories go.

When I put my fresh motor in I parked my friends fox in front of the house and just glanced at it back and fourth.

[sniperd]

flyin ryan - So you think I should use the head gasket as a weak spot so it blows first and not a bottom end?


flattus - A Masterpower T70 .68 A/R and a ponydown stage 1 manifold, 42# injectors, PMAS blow through, starting with a 6.5 psi tial spring in a 60mm X02 racing wastegate.
GT40 intake, stock block, stock trans, 3.08 gears

[flattusmaximus78]

I put pheads on before my strim. I put head gaskets from the late model resto rebuild gasket kit. They've seen some serious beatings. And there fine. I put head studs in at the same time.

And the kit sounds awesome. I really want to go turbo. On 3 perforance kit with the master power t76 it's like an 1800 dollar kit. Let me know how that turbo works out.

[sniperd]

Will do, I plan on posting videos & some pictures when its done..

[ryans88gt]

you can replace the bolts with studs doing one at a time so that the gaskets are never decompressed.

[flyin ryan]

Originally Posted by sniperd flyin ryan - So you think I should use the head gasket as a weak spot so it blows first and not a bottom end?

thats what I was getting at. mine have held 10 psi fine and put 403 the wheels with nothing more then a tfs stage 1 cam, tfs street heat intake, and t62e turbo. The car is tuned very well though, I've had a bunch of hours spent on it because it was daily driven plus I had a pms series 4/map setup on it so it's easy to make changes to the tune on the fly

[sniperd]

Originally Posted by flyin ryan thats what I was getting at. mine have held 10 psi fine and put 403 the wheels

Stock head gasket and bolts, no studs?

Originally Posted by ryans88gt you can replace the bolts with studs doing one at a time so that the gaskets are never decompressed.

Good to know, Im still not sure if im going to stud the head or not though.... Im at a loss on this one. I can see the point of both ways.

[FX4DTUF]

you can do it without taking off the heads we do it to powerstrokes all the time because its easier to just stick the studs in through the heads then taking those heavy ass things off and take off the body but technicly you dont have to take off the body its just easier if you do.

[ryans88gt]

Using the gasket as a fuse is one school of thought.

Better school of thought is to build the motor to handle the power and then have it tuned. Then you will not need to replace gaskets all the time.

Either way studs are better than bolts because they will do a better job of keeping the heads from lifting which will cause a blown head gasket even if there is no detonation.

[sniperd]

Originally Posted by ryans88gt Using the gasket as a fuse is one school of thought. Better school of thought is to build the motor to handle the power and then have it tuned. Then you will not need to replace gaskets all the time. Either way studs are better than bolts because they will do a better job of keeping the heads from lifting which will cause a blown head gasket even if there is no detonation.

I hear you on the building the motor part, But if I do everything the right way I need to wait until I have 20 grand to put this beast together, So I will risk it just like everyone else . I already dumped alot of cash into the turbo setup, So im hoping she gives me some fun before she dies.


Im going to stud the heads w/o changing the gaskets. Will let you guys know how it goes.