Do I NEED headstuds? s16g/16psi

[dboyle23]

Small 16g
VRSF FMIC
HKS 264's
Full 3" exhaust
EVO3 exhaust manifold
780's tuned for only injector compensation, no timing tuning done, stock timing
Running 16psi right now

I still have the 2g maf and stock throttle body and intake manifold

Think its ok to run without headstuds at this psi?

 

[Bud92gsx]

Need no..Reccomended yes..That way you can up the boost later and not have to worry about doing headstuds.

 

[bradselph]

You could install them without removing the head later so if anything you can get them later.

 

[dsmornothing]

Way back when, while I was 16g status. I had a similar setup as you do, It did not take long at all before I was blowing white smoke. I would suggest getting them for sure, just for the security of having them. You can replace them 1 at a time with the head still on the car though it is not recommended.

 

[bastarddsm]

You don't need em. If you pop a hg at this level your doing something wrong. In fact I'm half tempted to go back to stock bolts.

 

[snowborder714]

FWIW, I've been running 20-24 psi (and a few spikes to 30 psi on accident) on my small 16g setup for the past 4+ years on my stock engine and no indications of any issues with the stock head bolts.

If you want to do them for security, then that's fine, but you've got to have more airflow to need them.

 

[Aramane]

I replaced my headgasket when I installed my s16g. I saw that it was leaking antifreeze so I replaced with a felpro gasket and felpro headbolt and a new timing belt setup. No issues yet. I would do a compression test before undertaking the installation to see if you would need to replace the gasket. My car was very hard to start in the mornings, due to the leaky head gasket, it now starts with no problems.

I STRONGLY recommend a new timing system, new water pump, hydraulic tensioner, belts, and pulleys. If your timing belt is living on borrowed time, an increase of horsepower will collapse pulleys, cause your hydralic tensioner to fail and or snap your belt in half or shred the teeth off of it.

 

[Bud92gsx]

FWIW, I've been running 20-24 psi (and a few spikes to 30 psi on accident) on my small 16g setup for the past 4+ years on my stock engine and no indications of any issues with the stock head bolts.

If you want to do them for security, then that's fine, but you've got to have more airflow to need them.

How many times do I have to tell you..Your pure overkill and a freak of nature..

 

[danielkile]

you should be fine, but like everyone else said, if you plan on doing more it would just make sense to get it done and out of the way to be safe

 

[snowborder714]

FWIW, I've been running 20-24 psi (and a few spikes to 30 psi on accident) on my small 16g setup for the past 4+ years on my stock engine and no indications of any issues with the stock head bolts.

If you want to do them for security, then that's fine, but you've got to have more airflow to need them.

Just an update.

Went to the track a few weekends ago and blew the head gasket (between cylinders 1 and 2). When I took the head off, 2 of the bolts were much looser than the others and didn't take any effort to crack loose. Was running 22-23 psi on the turbo that day for 4-5 runs.