Are ARP headstuds necessary when going boost? I hear they're a waste of money.

 

How much boost?
Id say for 12psi & under leave the motor internals alone.

 

If you are gonna change them out I would get fullblowns headstuds. But I think the headstuds and the head gaskets are just temporary bandaids to work around the building of the motor.

 

I ordered a 3mm headgasket so i could run up to 15psi safely. Was thinking I should probably put it in the studs too.

 

Best advice, run 10-12psi on a stock motor with 93 octane & be happy with the #'s you get.
3mm's blow out after a while, also running 15psi on 3mm is same as running 12psi on stock HG,

For the money you will spend on 3mm HG & install labor, you would be better off getting the new Aeromotive Fuel pump, ID 1000 injectors, and a Zeitronix FlexiFuel sensor so you can run E85 & 93


Bro you should make a build thread, on here or the FI Forum,
get some feedback & suggestions before you buy anymore stuff,

 

my stock motor made 500whp on 93 no meth no HG. i did have ARP's but only because i wouldn't re-use the stock TTY headbolts when putting my motor back together. so it was either buy new OEM bolts or arp studs, and my local shop had the arp's in stock, so i used those!

 

I always use 93, burns cleaner and i don't like using low grade fuel even in my DD. As far the head gasket im just getting it as a precaution. Thanks for the input man!

 

It's not a precaution. It's a headache cuz it WILL blow. And that's a headache. So there is nothing cautious about using a thicker than stock HG

 

Please don't run the 3mm. Its not a matter of IF it will blow, its just a matter of WHEN!!! I don't know if IP changed the build quality on them or what but i won't even install them anymore. Everyone used to the run the 3mm when going above 10psi on stock motor was thought to be unsafe, now it seams 14psi is the new number.. I've done about 15 3mm installs over the past 3 years and only 4 cars are still running them, all the rest have blown at some point. ARP's will help but aren't neccessary imo, i have about 2,000 miles on my OEM bolts at 650whp+ and they are still holding up fine.

 

Not much of a precaution when it will most likely blow on you causing you to need to open the engine up. Like others have said you should definitely run 12 psi on stock headgasket instead of bumping up to 15 and lowering compression.