[s-cars] Re: Valve Job Anyone?

[QSHIPQ at aol.com]

Dave:
What "torque value" are you reaching?  Isn't the specification +180?  I'd 
certainly say it would appear that you could 'feel' which ones were landing right 
and which weren't.  When do you stop retorquing a ARP stud?  At what point is 
the new stock head bolt equal or better?  I don't know the answer, even when 
I asked ARP.  It's fine to have opinions, I just wish a guy like me could get 
more answers so I can share the same opinions.  Without them, I still ask the 
question, why aren't stock head bolts routinely failing if ARP's are so much 
better?  I know a LOT of head bolts of other marques that ARP's are a standard 
'upgrade'.  But I suspect that the trickle over marketing to include ALL head 
bolts is getting us a bit.

I can google search head bolt failures on 20vt and find only Hap's story.  
Lot's of head gasket stories, but I offer that's not a head bolt problem.  
Further, I have Carl Jerritts old beast sitting in my shop with some fine looking 
ARP studs, that blew it's head gasket to get here.

To date the use of ARP studs in a 20vt is not uncommon.  I'm personally 
trying to figure out what exactly is the 'reason' for it based on some sort of 
facts, not testimonials.  To date I get a lot of the latter.  The very first fact 
that appears before anyone starts down this trail is,  20vt head bolts don't 
appear to have a problem even in some pretty extreme use situations.  Starting 
there,  it's gonna be a tough logical argument to present: solutions.  Put in 
what you want to clamp the head to the block, and move on.

Er, and Dave, "oh yeah I can reuse them" makes *me* think something different 
than you might have intended.  Why?

Scott "twisty" Justusson
RS2URQ without ARP studs




In a message dated 1/16/2004 7:02:45 PM Central Standard Time, Djdawson2 
writes:
I'm the happy owner of multiple sets of ARP studs.  I won't bother debating 
the finer points of which is better... I'll just stick to my own opinion that a 
stud kit is superior.  Ever been torquing down your head, only to find one of 
the bolts just keeps turning before the torque value is reached?  I have, 
several times.  I was mortified by the thought that the block might be stripped 
out, but simply found my stretch bolts were just stretching... and stretching.

In any event... I'm not sure what the Audi bolts are going for these days, 
but at $115.69 a set, I'll take the ARPs.  Oh yeah, I can reuse them...
http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?target=search%2Easp&type=bymanufactu
rerspart&searchtype=both

HTH,
Dave in CO