Ok so I need to do Headstuds. My question is, What is the usuall cause of a blown HG. Is it from the head lifting or is the gasket just blowing out? I dont really have time do have the head oringed and cant afford to pay someone to do all the work. So when i do the studs will that help out enough. I am just wondering if instead of the head lifting it wil just blow the gasket out as easy?

 

It can be caused by both actually.

Just be sure that you get the head milled flat and put it back together yourself. You'll be ok. But you would be well advised to tne the truck down a hair.

500 hp and no rings is a potentially HG blowing combo.

~Wes~

 

I would get a marine gasket as well.

 

High drive pressure is also a HG killer.

 

i cant even drive it right now since I'm away from home but I turned down all the settings and stuff on the edge so the wife hopefully wont kill it. Do you think just studs will hold If I start using my W/M too. I didnt use it on the dyno b/c I didnt want to blow the truck up 3 hours from home a week before I let for Iraq. I just want to do it right but if just studs are good enough then thats what I'll do. I'll change my sig so you can s what I have.

 

I wouldnt take the chance. Studs are supposed to be good to about 60 psi. But then you add W/M. I think you would be pushing your luck then the gasket..

 

Thanks guys, I updated my signature maybe that will help a bit. I'm actually surprised the HG has held this long. I havent even seen it in 4 months so i think I remeber everything on it. The W/M is broken, I fried the controller so it isnt even being used now.

 

2141pete...
The main cause for headgasket failure is high cylinder pressure.Now that can come from excessive boost,overfueling,advanced timing,drugs and load conditions.They will claim the stock gasket is good to about 50lbs safely,but,thats in ideal conditions and who has them.

When you do your makes sure the head is square and checked for cracks(especially the valve seats on the 24v's as they fail ALOT) and check the deck of your block with a straight edge and a feeler gauge looking for warp.

O-Ringed or Fire Rings,marine gasket and a set of ARP studs,properly torqued and you will be alot safer and be able to use your water/Meth with confidence.Make sure you properly torque the head,using plenty of Moly lube on the nuts and after you drive it some recheck them to make sure none came loose.I have seen o-ringed properly torqued heads take a ton of boost and big drug shots and still drive home with no problem.We have a club member who had a terrible nitrous backfire,so bad it set off the burglar alram next door when we had our dyno day and the cops came,and yet he still drives the truck yet today.

If you take your time,do not rush and do it right the first time,chances are there will be no second time,unless something out of your control happens.Good Luck and if you have any questions feel free to drop me a note......Andy

 

thanks Andy, I will probly just go ahead and o-ring it then.

 

Good o-ring job with a 10 over marine and studs will hold up to 80lbs with sufficient retorques. You should be good to go.