Originally Posted by
Billy_YUM
So for 500bhp, i should use standard head bolts?
Yes, that is what people like Stu and Karl would say, and I believe they would recomend that you change them every now and then as they can yield over time.
This is confusing. Surely having the block machined and long studded would be a better way of securing the head down. Especially if the car will be running monster boost spikes?
Better for what?
Providing you have enough clamping force to stop the head gasket blowing, why do you need any more than that?
And when you do have lots more clamping force, what harm does that do to the shape of the block over time, and to the intergrety of the head that its crushing?
Loads of people say its what needs to be done.
If you were using race fuel (like all the motorsport engines people are talking about), and hence seeing massive peak cylinder pressures I would agree with them, and you would just have to accept that extra fatigue on the block and head were side effects of that.
On the other hand loads of people say its not the way they would do it.
How do you know who to listen to?
As with anything in life, you dont!
Personally Ive been on normal type (not long stud) ARP stud and nut for ages now (7 years in fact), which lots of people will say is a big no-no on a YB, but its been perfect for me and Im a big fan of them, and ive not had any of the block cracking problems which people say are common with them.