xr4tic

I'm already having ARP rod bolts put in. I do need to buy new head bolts (stock ones are good for one use only) so I'm thinking about head studs, and I figure while I'm at it, I'll get the main studs too. ARP lists main studs (Eurospec has them for $175) but not head studs, but I've been told they exist. I may have to do some calling around.

Anybody know the pros and cons (besides being expensive) of using studs?

Are they worth the cost?

Thanks,

SMOKINA4TURBO

talk to George at ATP, he has an account with them and probably knows the right one.

They always got packs of those ARP bolts and hardware...sooo nice and strong.
I'd go for it if I were you.

brians01

High tensile strength fasteners, such as the excellent ones from ARP, are nice to have for the extra factor of safety. Definitely not necessary unless you're thinking of pushing the limits of the mechanical internals. If money was no object, my guess is that the decision would be easy...there's always a budget, however.

Head studs are certainly better from a design perspective than head bolts. More expensive and probably not necessary, but that's your decision. There are really no cons to a head stud kit, other than cost. As Corky Bell put it "Head bolts are an accountant's decision. Head studs are an engineer's decision." That sums it up pretty well.

-Brian S.

Žob

I think they had some coming up for the 1.8

xr4tic

Raceware says it will be another 10-12 weeks at the earliest before they are available.

ARP doesn't list an application. They say if I give them the stud lengths, they can make me a set, but according to Raceware, the 20V head needs special nuts, since it's a really tight fit in the head (the bolts are recessed), so that's not an option.

I guess I can add the head studs later, but I don't want to buy new head bolts, only to remove them again.

Maybe I can use the old head bolts for the break-in period, then the Raceware studs should be available by then, and I can put them in before I crank the boost up.

Žob

but the 2.8 are supposedly re-useable....

4kq

There are several grades available arp/raceware.

98.5audi18t

because it makes it hard to take the head of and put it back since it get stuck on the bolts really easy if its not completely level when you lift it.

Just reuse the stock head bolts,it will work just as good.

carace

For what it is worth I re-used mine for about a month while wainting for new factory bolts.

xr4tic

I figure during break-in I'll be taking it easy, and won't be running much boost, so the old bolts should be OK until I crank it up.