Exhaust studs or bolts?

[BWDart]

Is it better to leave the studs in the heads of use bolts like the header manufacture says. Can the studs be replaced with something better, stronger that won't twist off after a few years?
Thanks Bruce

 

[Keith Mopar]

I do like to use studs at the ends of the head like the factory does because these go through to the water jacket. I have tried to use bolts in here but had leaks even though I used thread sealer, and there is nothing worse than pissing anti freeze all over when doing work on your vehicle, like changing a header gasket.

 

[BWDart]

Thanks Keith
Thats what I was thinking if you ever had to work on it coolant leaking everywhere or drain the coolant every time, pita. Does anyone make a stronger replacement stud?

 

[Keith Mopar]

I just put in new studs when I have the heads off. Once I got burned when I broke off a stud and couldn't get the broken part off and ended up at a machine shop that put in a helli coil and after that it always seeped anti freeze.

 

[ramcharger]

The problem with studs is that it's almost impossible to get the headers off due to clearance problems if you have to do any maintenance.

I'd call ARP if you're dead set on using them though. I'm sure they have something that would work, maybe in stainless steel so they don't corrode.

 

[daredevil]

The problem with studs is that it's almost impossible to get the headers off due to clearance problems if you have to do any maintenance.

I'd call ARP if you're dead set on using them though. I'm sure they have something that would work, maybe in stainless steel so they don't corrode.

ditto exactly what i was thinking