Ctl.head studs
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Joined: Feb 2009
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Ctl.head studs
I have a 03 6.0L;100000 Km.I've heard a lot of them have head gasket problems.Would it be wortwhile to install ARP head studs?Does anyone know if they can be installed without removing the heads?Any advice would be appreciated.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
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From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
They can be installed without removing the heads, however, getting an older truck and not knowing for sure if the person that owned it before you had head problems(may not have known himself rather or not he had head problems depending on his driving style), installing ARP studs without checking for flatness of the heads will not solve the headgasket issue. If your heads are warped, you'll still have headgasket problems despite having studs on there and the only consolation is the fact that you'll be able to re-use those studs. If you can I would highly suggest making sure everything is kosher with the heads rather then run the risk of having something going wrong with it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
Oh if that's the case, unless you plan on doing aftermarket performance stuff, I would leave well enough alone until it happens; if it does. You could actually cause a problem thru installation even if there wasn't one before.
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 24,308
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From: SW Virginia
Agreed. Don't fix it if it ain't broke. If you start to have issues or blow one, then by all means go with the ARPs. I wouldn't even think about trying to replace the studs without lifting the heads. If I were going to do the studs, I'd do the gaskets and have the heads o-ringed too.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
Factory gaskets are good for up to about 600 hp. The bolts(and number of bolts) are the main issue with the 6.0. If you try to do hypermax gaskets(or equilivant) you have to make sure that install is damn near perfect and if you mess up, that's alot of money down the drain for that set of gaskets and for the new ones you have to get. I'm running stock gaskets and I don't have a problem with the headgaskets(other things that's a different story).
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 24,308
Likes: 42
From: SW Virginia
Yeah, I know about the hypermax. I'm just saying that if it was me, I'd go ahead and go the extra mile. Always good insurance anyways. At the very least though, I'd replace the gaskets when I did the studs. Not big on the idea of leaving the heads on to replace the bolts with studs. I'd make sure the heads were flat and true also. Plus, if you've got a competent diesel tech., shouldn't be too much of a problem.
