Cummins head stud prices are ridiculous

[BILLVO]

I'm in the same boat to. I just ordered my Juice with Attitude.

I won't be able to "use" all the power until I get the studs and

a new head gasket. My truck is just a puller but I do like

to waste the kids in the imports once in a while for that

feel good feeling. hehehe

Unless you have a different turbo and injectors you still wont have to worry about the "Use" of all the power without studs and head gasket.



I am over 500 hp and have sled pulled several times and run ricers plenty all on stock bolts and gasket yet, but my wastegate is set at 45 but unless I run on level 4 or 5 I rarely get over 40 psi boost. I am usually way past them at around 35 psi boost on level 3 smarty sw6. I would like studs too but I want to see how long the stock gasket will last with stock bolts the way I run it. When it does go I will o-ring and stud but not until then and then set the wastegate to around 50psi.

 

[JFaulkner]

I've heard countless times that the boost pressure isn't what kills the gaskets, it's the backpressure of a small exhaust housing. (stock charger)

 

[DCreed]

which ever is HIGHER intake or exhuast . most only measure intake ,drive pressure is then a mistery and with too small a housing it can easily exceed boost pressure. so a wastegate at 40 psi can have a drive pressure of say 50 psi and take out ur hg. and the bigger the hp the quicker/higher the boost/backpressures become . nos is also a big factor as it becomes more common. adding substantial drive pressures without increasing boost #s. hence why drive pressure is so important to head gaskets. the fact is if ur crossing your fingers you should also be ordering the replacement/upgrade parts. sooner or later you'll need em!

 

[Jetpilot]

Cylinder pressure kills headgaskets not boost pressure or backpressure.....

 

[IC Smoke]

Hey IC SMOKE

So what I am getting is that once you O-ring and head stud you will never blow a head gasket ?

Nobody out there with studs or O-rings or both, ever blown a gasket ?

At twice the price studs would be worth it.

If everything on these trucks was that easy.

On my 3rd lift pump, 3rd injection pump and so on.

Not trying be a smartass, but I am pretty sure 1 of the 800hp plus guys is still on stock bolts. Sound like anyone ?

Just my 2cents.

Scott

After surfing here on TDR and hearing/seeing guys blow headgaskets after upping the power with a big single or twins I thought it would be wise to tear the truck down over winter and have it O-ringed. you CAN blow out a O-ring but I havent seen one. Its money well spent IMO! a buddy here on TDR "Dispatch" bought my HX40 and blew a headgasket... . with a blown HG I woudlnt want the mess of cleaning coolent out of the oil or oil out of the coolant!!!! just something to consider!



Ian

 

[SKargo]

Cylinder pressure kills headgaskets not boost pressure or backpressure.....

How do you measure Cylinder pressure?

 

[DCreed]

good question ,maybe jet can explain how to blow headgakets without boost or backpressure

 

[Jetpilot]

Boost and backpressure are part of the equation of cylinder pressure. A good example is a 12v that advances the timing (no other changes) and now blows a HG. The cylinder pressure went up due to the advanced timing... . Same hold true with running nitrous, add nitrous to a truck that has no o-rings/fire-rings and watch for the HG failure, even if boost and backpressure are the same (use of a good wastegate will allow for this).



Bottom line is boost and backpressure do factor into HG failure but the cylinder pressures is what ultimatly causes their demise. We use backpressure/boost pressures as a reference because we can measure them easily... .

 

[SKargo]

Thanks JP.



What effect does water/meth have on pressures?

 

[Jetpilot]

How much alcohol are you running?

 

[bluthndr]

well said! its just money and Ill gladly pay the 400 since I DO NOT want to do a head re-moval again!! I didnt pull my head due to a blown HG, I did it to O-ring the head and stud it so it was mearly a saftey precaution so to speak.



Ian

Just because you stud & o-ring it doesn't mean it'll save you. I'm going on HG #5 now with only 45 psi... #@$%!

 

[AFoulk]

when you o-ring a head, your just have grooves cut in the head for a metal/wire o-ring that puts more clamping pressure on the headgasket around the cyl. , right? Theres no machining of the block involved, correct?

 

[CogginsP]

when you o-ring a head, your just have grooves cut in the head for a metal/wire o-ring that puts more clamping pressure on the headgasket around the cyl. , right? Theres no machining of the block involved, correct?

correct! All machining is in the head.

 

[bluthndr]

Can be either block or head or both.

 

[DCreed]

maybe a stupid question, are u retorquing after install? how often?

 

[IC Smoke]

3 retorques here,

go easy on the truck until you have done the 3 retorques I dont remember how many heat-cycles it takes but it takes a lot







so far 60lbs and the rings are holding

 

[Mille4212]

Ok guys I've been gone for quite a while. Just lost head gasket Friday night. I was towing around 6000lbs and about 40 psi boost. I got oil leaking out of the front of the head. So I heard there is a better gasket to get? Can you give me the part number also I'll be doing studs. Felt violated with the truck on a trailer and a f**d towing it LMAO.

 

[PKozlowski]

ROTFL!!! I know exactly how you feel.

When I had to be towed a F#$D flat bed picked me up.

I actually thought for a minute about asking for another

truck like a Petebuilt or maybe just pushing it the 75 miles.

 

[Mille4212]

LMAO, I took the pictures first so my friend couldn't give me a bad time about it LOL, all in good clean fun. In the end I was thankful they were up there and watching my back. Even though they do drive fords and chevys LOL.