I am atempting a headgasket replacement and after some researching I’m noticing a lot of people replacing their headstuds is this nessecery or will it work fine with the ones on already? If anyone can shed some light on why I would need new headstuds let me know please…by the way I’m working on a B18a1. Thanks :bigread:
YES! This is one of those lessons you will learn the hard way.
Also, go ahead and get ARP head studs. They are pretty much the same price as OEM bolts and will allow you to get a better, more even clamping force on the head.
WTF is up with the big obnoxious read emoticon you’ve got there?
it can be left to your own discretion. our cars head bolts are not torque to yield, so it is possible to reuse
The reason why it is highly advised to replace them is because over time and excessive revving of your motor will wear the studs down. High revving (and any rpm in general) is going to apply a force on the motor that is like the head trying to PULL itself up from the motor… this causes bolt-stretch. So once you loosen the bolts and go to put em back in, the actual length of the bolt has changed, so when you torque the bolts, you aren’t going to get the original factory-seal… making it very possible to have a headgasket leak or even possibly break a stud (extreme/worst case) when trying to torque it.
You would ‘probably’ be ok reusing them… but if 90% of people are saying to replace them, there is probably a factor of trial-and-error here that has cause so many people to agree that getting new bolts is a necessity.
I’d get some ARP/GoldenEagle/AEBS headstuds because as someone else said they’re about the same cost as an oem set.
well, it’s always more regretful to be less than more safe, i suppose. but like i said, it’s your own discretion. of course you would inspect first. along with running a tap and thread chaser
True true… could always check the studs with a rod/bolt stretch gauge to make sure they’re still within tolerance… but it is a great peace of mind to have a nice new set of studs/bolts.
I’m just glad to have ARPs on my latest built… helps me sleep better at night 
no doubt, if you’re modifying to reach higher than factory cylinder pressures, clamping force of studs can’t be beat.
the op did use the word need in quotations though. so i figure he’s talking about absolute necessity on putting back together a stock engine
Thanks for the suggestions I am gonna go with new headstuds since I’m running nitrous and don’t want the extreme pressures from rev to cause my gasket to give out again …all is appreciated.