Head studs....:( bad news

[Diesel JD]

CAT has the right bolts, 7/16-14. They won't hold quite 220,000 PSI but they will hold a lot more than 153,000 for the stock 6.9. I wonder how much they want for them. I bet its not cheap!

 

[BigRigTech]

I can get CAT stuff pretty cheap. What engine uses those? A 3126 or something small like that?

 

[Diesel JD]

I think it was just their headbolts. They used to list a bunch of headbolts just by size, no application was listed. I got the idea because I heard some people eventually solved their persistent head gasket problems on the 5.7 GM diesels with CAT bolts. Am I mistaken or do they not offer bolts this way?

 

[Devilish]

I've built alot of engines for high performance applications using arp bolts. These engines weren't diesels but I've never had a problem with them and they were never the source of failure.

 

[BigRigTech]

21.5:1 compression ratio is murder on fastener's and then adding even a little boost is only compounding the issue.

 

[Cat_Rebel]

I thought ARP only made studs for the 6.9L are they making them for the 7.3L IDI now too?

 

[Diesel JD]

I looked into the cat bolts and they aren't what I thought, they are similar in strength to the factory bolts. That's the hex head bolts though, as far as the 12 pt ones, I didn't see any long enough but they are in the 170,000 psi bolts.

 

[icanfixall]

Rebel... Arp doesn't really make a stud for our 7.3 motors but... The 7 inch long stud part number AR7.00-1lb fits fine. Its about 3/8th of an inch too long but they do fit. You must be careful when your tightening them down. The fine thread end of the studs sticks up out of the nut enough for the socket to just damage the threads at the top. This contact will also change the torque values so if you use them grind off about 1/8th inch from the tops and all will be great. If you need the ARP 12 point nuts and the washers the part numbers are ARN12-1 for the nuts and ARW78N for the washers. They also sell a cheaper nut that isn't a 12 point but it works just the same and its much cheaper than the $8 or $9 bucks a piece for the 12 points.

 

[Rawpower]

wow i thought I was the only one... I had a DPS headstud break about 6 months ago after a year of usage.

$675.00, breaking, ******* me off...

 

[h2odrx]

does arp make one for the a 97 7.3l?

 

[Hyde]

Thats a powerstroke, try Wide Open Performance or any other powerstroke place.

 

[icanfixall]

So... Joejohn... What ever happen with you and the ARP studs??? Did they take care of you? Just wondering and I hope all is well on your end...

 

[Joejohn]

Well I just gave my machinest an invoice number friday from another member here who purchased there studs. Im asuming there ordered but I will find out this afternoon. The price wasnt to bad. a bit over 200.00 for the studs alone and I only needed a few nuts and washers. If he got them ordered I should be all set. The good part is that I just got home last night for a month so hopefully I can get them in and installed.

 

[icanfixall]

Joejohn... Just make sure you torque them down and loosen them up 5 times so the friction valve reduces. That way you will have the proper end torque. They do recommend using their moly lube too. I hope you got some of that. I had a set of new, torqued down once Felpro head gaskets and another spare head and block to use for the torqueing and loosening. You can use your motor for this.

 

[6 Nebraska IDIs]

I've been saying it for a long time, there is a CAT bolt out there that we used on my grandpas 6.9 (kept blowing head gaskets). My dad went in there one day and just bought enough for one side and we never had another issue with that head leaking. Put over 450,000 miles on it with those bolts in there.
I hate using studs on heads because it makes it such a PITA to put on and take off the head.