12 valve head studs? Do I need them?

[snowracer69]

I have a 1997 12 valve that I'm getting ready to put the head back on. I just had a valve job, port & polish, and o-ring done to it. I will be running about 50 lbs boost.



Do I need 12mm head studs? Who has them and what do they cost?



If not can I reuse the old head bolts? Or what do the OEM ones cost?





Thanks, Lucas

 

[TORQUE THIS]

If I went thru all that I would use the 12mm studs...

 

[Jim Fulmer]

Buy the studs and put them in and forget about.



Jim

 

[britannic]

If the head bolts are "torque to yield", it's bad practice to reuse them, as they stretch on first use and won't do a good job of holding their torque the second time around.

 

[y-knot]

It is a very well accepted practice, to replace the head studs every time the head is removed. I have always done it, and would recommend the same to anyone else. The studs are exposed to tremendous loads, and are also stretched by the torquing process. To me this is not the time or place to get "Cheap", you have invested to much time, effort and money to start now. Replace the ones you have and don't worry about them. As far as do you need the 12mm one, I can not say. Seems the OEM Cummins studs do a mighty fine job as it is. Maybe others would give a better answer, I would think it would depend on the RPM and Boost levels you want to run. Good Luck.