Felpro Head Bolts

[XECLIPZEX]

Has anyone ever used these? If so are they of good quality? Would these have to be torqued like the OEM "stretch" bolts? I have searched and searched and found that the general population just goes with the ARP head studs. Thats fine and everything but Im on a really tight budget and was going to get a set of these along with a felpro head gasket from Orielly's for around $80.00. Im not planning on making a lot of power with this car so I wouldnt be running a lot of pressure, 15 PSI max w/ Evo III 16g. I just want to get it back on the road again as cheaply and as dependable as possible. Thanks.

 

[BrokenTsi]

They will work fine if you're on a budget. Why did the headgasket blow in the first place?

 

[XECLIPZEX]

Im not really sure. It just started boiling all the coolant out of the overflow after its been driven for about 15 minutes. Also after topping off the radiator the coolant light still says that its low for some reason. I've flushed the coolant system, installed a new thermostat and it still does it. Most of the things that I have read on here have pointed me to a new headgasket so I'm just going to replace that. Also a friend of mine has had a similar experience with a different type car and he said that his turned out to be a head gasket as well.

 

[black_gst]

sounds like a blown head Gasket arp's are really the way to go. you might as well just reuse the ones you have if you cant afford the arp head studs

 

[XECLIPZEX]

The oem 7 bolt head bolts are not reusable though, surely these felpro ones would be better than re using the oem ones.

 

[black_gst]

oh thats right... the only thing i ever did with a 7 bolt was pull it out of the car .

another thing is post a WTB ad for used 7 bolt head studs you should be about to get them for aroung $50 used i had a set but i stripped a couple of the nuts i still have all the studs though but im likely missing some washers too they have been in my spare nuts and bolts box for almost 2 years

 

[BogusSVO]

well once the head is off the first thing to do is check it for warp, beacuse if it is warped over .003 no HG will last long.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/341627-how-check-head-warp.html

If it is warped then it will have to be surfaced/milled...
DO NOT LET A MACHINE SHOP BELT SURFACE your head!!
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/cyl...0613-why-not-let-your-head-belt-surfaced.html

it should come out looking about like this , Composite or MLS
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/new...face-4g63t-cylinder-head-mls-head-gasket.html

As Far as your choice of the Felpro head bolts vs. Arp head studs, looks to be about $15-$20 price diffrence.
I would spend the few extra bucks and get the ARP studs, they will not strech near as much as the felpro bolts. The Felpro are OE replacements, so any increase in boost pressure will cause them to strech more than what they are designed for due to the incresed cylinder pressure from the increased boost level

 

[BrokenTsi]

He can get a head gasket AND head studs for 80. It will work fine if money is an issue providing that the cause of the head gasket blowing in the first place was fixed.

 

[XECLIPZEX]

To be honest I have no idea how the head gasket blew. I haven't driven this car in over 3 years until about a week ago. That's when I discovered it, and I know it wasn't blown before I stopped driving it because it ran fine. Maybe because it set for so long the gasket got weak? I don't know, but I am willing to bet that the more I drive it the more I will find other gaskets that need replacing .

 

[rollingstone]

On the ARP head studs I have used them only once before Is there a torque on the studs when putting them in with an allen wrench or hand tight then torqued after putting on the head.