To Stud or not to Stud
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Beautiful BC
To Stud or not to Stud
Truck is in for a leak right now (not a HG leak) but the dealer will be taking it all apart. They have given me the option of installing ARP studs for the cost of the parts, but have told me if I choose to go that way and the HG's fail while under warranty they won't be covered. I have about 1 year remaining on ESP, so I am a bit torn. I worry that if it is done incorrectly they could fail again and I'd be on the hook for it, however if done correctly shouldn't have another issue. If they went with the Ford bolts it would only cost my deductible. Would it be better with a year warranty left to just go with fresh bolts and deal with doing studs and the rest of the bulletproofing if/when I have an issue in the future? Any opinions would be appreciated.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2012
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Here is my take on the bolts. If they are installed with correctly calibrated machines in the factory they get installed with the correct preload and will be as reliable as stock, which is extremely reliable (the bolts don't fail, something else fails first, in close to 100% of head gasket failures). The bolts will almost certainly not get installed correctly in the field, since they rely on quite imprecise methods to determine pre-load, and so will not be as reliable as stock. The studs are not pre-loaded in the same way (torque to yield bolts vs torque to induce stretch for the studs) and so can be reliably installed in the field if the instructions are followed exactly with calibrated tools. So while I would not change bolts to studs for the hell of it, on a whim, I would not install new bolts but would install studs instead. The warranty issue sure clouds the issue. I'd probably still go with studs.
Brian
Brian
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Elder User
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From: Beautiful BC
I have not had any issues with the factory bolts thus far, but since they have to take it apart for other work, I have to make the decision. I am kind of leaning toward just having them go back with factory setup so it will be warrantied for the next year. It's a tough call, they are a big dealer with their own diesel shop, so they do a lot of these, so I think as far as dealers go they are pretty good.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2012
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Are they or have they checked the heads to make sure they aren't warpped and are within spec have them machined if need be and have the arps put in if the heads are in spec and you're studded you hopefully won't need the warranty. That's what I would do but your truck your choice.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Beautiful BC
I have a call in right now to find out the process. I want to make sure the heads are checked for flatness etc before going that route. If it isn't being done properly I might as well get the ford parts then wait and just do the studs when it is needed down the road. It will help make my decision once I get an answer on that.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,202
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From: Illinois
They are taking the heads off and not replacing the gaskets? What's leaking?
Do you have a tuner on your truck? Are you ever planning on installing one? If the answer is yes, I'd roll the dice and install studs.
Do you have a tuner on your truck? Are you ever planning on installing one? If the answer is yes, I'd roll the dice and install studs.
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Elder User
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From: Beautiful BC
Yes they are replacing th gaskets under warranty, but are giving me the option to pay extra for parts and install ARP studs. No plans to ever add a tuner.
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From: Millersville, MD
Install the studs...don't look back. The HG will not fail in a year anyway. What was leaking to require the heads be removed?
I am still covered by ESP and had the studs put in when mine failed because of a clogged eng oil cooler/egr cooler. The only thing that will NOT be covered are the head gaskets/heads....and the studs will prob prevent that.
I am still covered by ESP and had the studs put in when mine failed because of a clogged eng oil cooler/egr cooler. The only thing that will NOT be covered are the head gaskets/heads....and the studs will prob prevent that.
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Elder User
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From: Beautiful BC
Install the studs...don't look back. The HG will not fail in a year anyway. What was leaking to require the heads be removed?
I am still covered by ESP and had the studs put in when mine failed because of a clogged eng oil cooler/egr cooler. The only thing that will NOT be covered are the head gaskets/heads....and the studs will prob prevent that.
I am still covered by ESP and had the studs put in when mine failed because of a clogged eng oil cooler/egr cooler. The only thing that will NOT be covered are the head gaskets/heads....and the studs will prob prevent that.
Some sort of rocker leak or something they said? Initially in for a bedplate leak, but they found a few other things at the same time.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: South Jersey
this is simply answer, if they are removing the heads and that's covered by warranty put something in that 1,000 times more reliably! when have you heard of a ARP fastener failing? Yea NEVER People with worked 6.0 run ARP studs and have over 1000HP, top fuel dragsters, monster trucks, race cars on and on and on use ARP and you never hear their studs or bolts breaking.... its everything else that cant stand up LOL
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Elder User
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From: Beautiful BC
I don't have much of a choice, I think they are the best dealer around here for diesel work and with all the warranty stuff they are doing I'm stuck to a dealer.
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Elder User
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From: Beautiful BC
So I talked to them and they said they will check the heads for warping and with a straight edge of some sort, but don't necessarily send them out to be machined. Worries me a bit.