Jump to content
CaddyInfo Cadillac Forum

Help!! ARP head stud kit


blk987

Recommended Posts

Has anyone ever used or know anything about ARP head stud kit. Im about to replace the head gaskets on my N* and I have a friend who would give it to me for 50 bucks which is alot cheaper than Jakes, Norms and timesert. I know most of you all here stand by the three I just mentioned but I could possibly save 400 to 500 bucks. I have a feeling most are going to say just bite the bullet and spend the extra money but I thought I should at least ask.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


ARP is a great company and they have a great product, with excellent quality control standards. I recently got one of their extensive catalogs, very impressive.

We can not answer this question for you, you have not provided specs on the bolts. Cheap is good, but not if they are not the correct bolts. In addition, the stock bolts have a coating on them, do the ARP bolts?

I believe the stock bolts are M11 x 1.50, not sure of the length, maybe someone knows

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am in the middle of headgasket repair on a 1998 sts and contacted arp about some head studs for my engine.

They are not making any specifically for the 4.6 northstar but do sell some that will work, but only have 1 inch of threads on each end..In my opinion not enough grip as that is what the normal bolts grip when installed. There is 3/8 of one inch of threads below the normal reach of stock bolts, but with a 1 inch thread on the arp studs you dont get to take advantage of it..They told me the studs they are selling now for a northstar are actually vw jetta studs and will work, just not what I wanted..The cost of arp studs is 210.oo as jobber cost through a friend of mine that runs an engine shop..Arp told me they are looking into the northstar studs, but wont be a reality until later next year..gm_fan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am in the middle of headgasket repair on a 1998 sts and contacted arp about some head studs for my engine.

They are not making any specifically for the 4.6 northstar but do sell some that will work, but only have 1 inch of threads on each end..In my opinion not enough grip as that is what the normal bolts grip when installed. There is 3/8 of one inch of threads below the normal reach of stock bolts, but with a 1 inch thread on the arp studs you dont get to take advantage of it..They told me the studs they are selling now for a northstar are actually vw jetta studs and will work, just not what I wanted..The cost of arp studs is 210.oo as jobber cost through a friend of mine that runs an engine shop..Arp told me they are looking into the northstar studs, but wont be a reality until later next year..gm_fan

That is exactly what they told me when I considered doing my Northstar.

Consider using the Northstar Performance Studs, look at how much thread is on these CNC'd studs, what attracted me to these was no galling of the block's threads during torquing, (although there is no galling of the block's threads during torquing with timeserts either).

Look at these studs, this is the way I hope to go one day, 2 inches of threads

http://www.northstarperformance.com/sgstuds.php

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Just wanted to thank everyone for their input on my repair of my sts. The job is complete and was just as difficult as advertised. I have put around 200 miles on the car so far with a few run ups on the rpms to 6K with no problems. Charged the ac tonight and everything seems normal. I am putting my wife in the car to drive and will let everyone know what the results are in the future. I repaired the car as I felt necessary, even though contrary to some opinions on here, but there is one thing for sure, I am willing to accept responsibility for my actions good,bad or indifferent and if it fails, I will be the first to admit I was wrong, and I will certainly let everyone on this site know if it does fail,,thanks again. gm_fan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just wanted to thank everyone for their input on my repair of my sts. The job is complete and was just as difficult as advertised. I have put around 200 miles on the car so far with a few run ups on the rpms to 6K with no problems. Charged the ac tonight and everything seems normal. I am putting my wife in the car to drive and will let everyone know what the results are in the future. I repaired the car as I felt necessary, even though contrary to some opinions on here, but there is one thing for sure, I am willing to accept responsibility for my actions good,bad or indifferent and if it fails, I will be the first to admit I was wrong, and I will certainly let everyone on this site know if it does fail,,thanks again. gm_fan

Glad its on the road again, Good Luck

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

Link to comment
Share on other sites

did you use the studs without repairing/inserting the block threads?

He used OEM head bolts without repairing the head bolt threads

He stated that he felt that the bolts torqued up good, and he did not feel the threads give out

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

Link to comment
Share on other sites

...which tells me that the threads were previously repaired with inserts of some kind. I think that probability that this could be done with the factory threadlock that usually causes aluminum to stick to the threads of the factory head bolts when removed is infinitesimal.

CTS-V_LateralGs_6-2018_tiny.jpg
-- Click Here for CaddyInfo page on "How To" Read Your OBD Codes
-- Click Here for my personal page to download my OBD code list as an Excel file, plus other Cadillac data
-- See my CaddyInfo car blogs: 2011 CTS-V, 1997 ETC
Yes, I was Jims_97_ETC before I changed cars.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

he said he used studs, not arp bolts. he also said he was going to use them instead of timeserts. so he just screwed them into the stock threaded holes in block.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

he said he used studs, not arp bolts. he also said he was going to use them instead of timeserts. so he just screwed them into the stock threaded holes in block.

Oh, I thought we were talking about GM Fan, he started out using Studs then went to OEM bolts, research his name

http://caddyinfo.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=34199&st=0&p=177929&fromsearch=1entry177929

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

Link to comment
Share on other sites

devilleb started thread and never came back. was vague. he said he was thinking of using arp studs and left it at that. at least in this thread. gmfan says he fixed car. did not say what he used in this thread. yes i could look for other threads to see what he did. or he could mention what he used in this thread.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...