My experience with ARP Studs

[ericjack]

Has anyone had this to happen??? I installed my studs today. I THROUGHLY lubed the studs, nuts and washers with the included assembly lube that ARP sent and insisted I use. When I got to around 100 ft/lbs of torque, several nuts started to "chatter" or "pop". I could not even get to 200ft/lbs.

So, i removed all the nuts and washers and, again, I THROUGHLY lubed everything. I really put it on thick...on everything. Tried to torque, and again, I got to 100 ft/lbs and they started to chatter again...like the threads were dry.

So I got a bottle of Lucas Oil Treatment and rubbed it on all the nuts, studs and washers. This time they did not chatter until around 230 ft/lbs. I went ahead and torqued to 245 ft/lbs like the paper says.

Anyone else had this problem? Are my gaskets going to be ok with the nuts chattering or popping from 230 to 245 ft/lbs?

By the way, for anyone interested, I did this with the cab on and engine in the truck. I didn't even mess with the A/C box. I learned a few tricks for those interested. This made it a lot easier...Loosen the rear trans mount and jack it up to the floor pan. Take a ratchet strap and pull the rear of transfer case over towards the driver side. It will move over 3-4 inches. This will do two things....It will move the right head away from the A/C box, and move the bottom rear bolt on the left head away from the firewall. You still have to bring the 4 bottom bolts out with the right head. You also have to tie in the studs for the same four going back in. The left head will go on with no studs. all will go in after the head is on.

All in all, this job hasn't been bad until the studs started giving trouble. Hope this helps.

[ZMANN]

nice post!I used ARP on other apps without issue , What were u using to feel chatter?

[beaslyb]

Was the mating surface of the nut to washer or washer to head dry? I just put a 4 banger together and when I torqued the head bolt down it did the same thing, the mating surface for the bolt to the head needed a little lube.

[trailerlugging]

Guy at the Ford Garage puts studs in on the side, because they REFUSE to do it when replacing the heads and/or head gaskets.

He does them one at a time with NO ISSUES???

I don't buy into that, does anyone else have any experience with doing them one at a time.

[PowerStrokn]

every single arp stud i have installed in a 6.0 does that. it scared the crap out me at first i thought i broke the stud. i go back and check the torque when that happens. so far i have not had any problems. i use the entire package of that special grease everytime. its not like ive only done one set of head studs id probably say closer to 15.
I must say you are crazy for doing these in cab, i dont know what type of lift you have but the best way to do the job is cab off. for me it always seems to turn into a hack job trying to fight the firewall and a/c box to get the heads on and torque everything right.

[Texascadillac42]

Contact Greg Hogue at Greg Hogue's Motorsports Supply He is VERY knowledgeable on ARP studs, especially in the diesel applications, he may be able to shed some light on why the studs are doing this.

[fordboyyfm]

every set ive ever done does that.