Need head bolt suggestions
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New User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21
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Need head bolt suggestions
My 6.0 is at the dealership for the second time because of a blown head gasket. I asked in a seperate thread yesterday for suggestions as to what I can do to keep this from happening again because my warranty runs out in September. Truck has only 55,000 miles on it but it's an 06'. Couple of suggestions were to use ARP head bolts. I talked to the service manager last night and he said they might be willing to do that but he would like me to get him more info. So I'm looking for that info. I was hopeing to find some documented instances where these or other suggestions have worked. Even if it's just from forum members who have recommendations. So please respond with your "helpful" suggestions so I can print this off and show him. Thanks for all your help.
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 221
Likes: 0
From: Carson, Washington
I just did the ARP studs on mine. That is the way to go. You could print out threads from here and take them to him. Maybe they will see that is what everyone with a 6.0 does to fix that problem. You may have to pay the difference though for the studs.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,890
Likes: 3,607
ARP head studs (not bolts) are a good upgrade, but you must also make sure evrything is absolutely flat (heads and block). I would also have the heads magnafluxed to look for cracks. Have you ever seen any excessive boost readings?
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,192
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From: Kerrville, Tx
worth every penny to do studs. That is the only perminate fix to the head gaskets leaking. im pretty sure anyone who has common since will use studs. everyone i know that owns a 6.0 has studded it. hope this helps
Elder User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: Patricia, Alberta
High cylinder pressure causes the stock "torque to yield" head bolts to stretch and the heads "lift" causing the gaskets to blow out. The studs have a considerably higher clamping force so the heads don't lift. I've been wondering if the weak head bolts don't contribute to the warping problem too by allowing the heads to flex while they're lifting. I'm no expert, just thinking out loud. Remember if you get the heads machined, take only enough off to true the head, and I think 8 thou is the limit.
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 1
From: Texas
When the head gasket leaked on my 04 6.0L SD - the bolts were replaced with H11 studs. The main issue discovered was that the cylinder head surfaces on the block were roughly machined (milled) and the cylinder pressure was escaping into the water jackets through the furrows in the surface. On mine this was cured by hand-lapping the block until it was properly smooth and flat. Heads were machined at the same time to ensure everything was like new.
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