fitted ARP studs to my 3.9 V8 today.

**PhilipA** · 25th February 2011, 08:45 PM

I have been stripping my 3.9V8 to fit an almost new pair of heads with ARP studs and you beaut head gaskets recommended by TRS.

After I do the second head possibly tomorrow , I will progress to the camshaft.
Just a few notes on the ARP studs.
It is easy to fit them to the heads by cleaning up the threads in the block and then installing the heads then hand screwing in the studs. The studs have an Allen socket in the top to help screw them in finger tight. The head and gasket are held by the dowels in the block

The issue of getting the heads over the studs does not arise.
As per several sets of instructions I lubed the washers and nuts with CRC Moly/graphite Assembly lube then tightened the nuts in 3 stages40-60-80 ft lbs (80 recommended by ARP using lube,or 85 with engine oil)
I then loosened each nut in sequence 2 more times and retightened, and got some more angle .
After the third torqueing, the instructions are to loosen off the nuts individually and then turn the stud by hand again until finger tight then torque once again..

One thing I found interesting is that the studs do not bottom in the block, the thread is quite a bit shorter than the tapped hole. The stud actually bottoms on the top of the stud coarse thread and has I estimate about 5-8 MM space under. So there is no need to chase the thread to the very bottom.
Its all pretty tedious and I could not imagine the average mechanic bothering but my impression is that this gasket is here to stay.

I bloody hope so anyway.

Regards Philip A

**Davo** · 28th February 2011, 11:56 AM

Thanks for the tips. I'm hoping to do the same thing eventually. Of course it's tedious - it's an engine!

**Nick S** · 1st March 2011, 08:23 AM

Hi Phillip, I recently used the ARP studs on a 4.6 that I put into my RRC, very impressed with the quality of the kit. I think that they a worth the $s and gets rid of the stretch bolt saga. As you say a tedious process but worth the effort
Nick

**LRCounty** · 6th May 2011, 08:07 PM

Just thought you might be interested.
I received my ARP head and main studs from the USA today.

They have been boxed with ARP Ultra-Torque lube included. This new lube eliminates the need for torque cycling apparently, so it's do it up once and that's it. No more undoing and re-torquing three times. I found the following video that explains simply, why the cycling has been necessary until now....I learnt something today :-)

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjBaWo0QMYU"]YouTube - ARP Ultra-Torque Tested on Horsepower TV[/ame]

Cheers
Andre

**County4.4** · 8th May 2011, 07:32 AM

what was the brand of you beaut gasket ??

**p38arover** · 8th May 2011, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by PhilipA

It is easy to fit them to the heads by cleaning up the threads in the block and then installing the heads then hand screwing in the studs. The studs have an Allen socket in the top to help screw them in finger tight. The head and gasket are held by the dowels in the block

The issue of getting the heads over the studs does not arise.

Now that's good to know. I had considered them for my engine.

Originally Posted by PhilipA

One thing I found interesting is that the studs do not bottom in the block, the thread is quite a bit shorter than the tapped hole. The stud actually bottoms on the top of the stud coarse thread and has I estimate about 5-8 MM space under. So there is no need to chase the thread to the very bottom.

That might help avoid this type of cracking:

http://robisonservice.blogspot.com/2...-failures.html

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 8th May 2011, 07:53 AM

bolts are so 20th century---

so,, do I now ask my engine rebuilder what he used to lube my studs??

**PhilipA** · 8th May 2011, 08:10 AM

what was the brand of you beaut gasket ??

They didn't really have a prominent brand on the packaging, but I thought they were called "Perfect Seal" but I ran into a dead end on Google.

If you want them just call Triumph Rover Spares and they will sell them to you for $58 each. Ouch but worth it if they keep the gases and water in , which the OEM ones don't very well. Gas yes water no.
Regards Philip A

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 8th May 2011, 08:13 AM

I find it funny when I did mine not so long ago, they were keen to recommend OEM,,,

$58 is cheap insurance,,,

**clubagreenie** · 8th May 2011, 08:54 AM

I've used both std studs for the rover and had custom studs made by ARP for different applications and regardless of the lube they note to run a pre stretch. The initial torque cycling is to pre stretch the studs rather than build up the final tension. A better lube will reduce the friction and lessen the differences in final tension.

So I wouldn't eliminate the pre torque sequence, but the final sequence will be a better result with their lube.

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fitted ARP studs to my 3.9 V8 today.

No more Torque cycling

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