Im running a LS-Vtec turbo set up on a GE sleeved block. I recently blew a head gasket on my car. Well its not blown completely but a little bit of coolant is mixing with the oil. I used a cometic gasket and ARP studs. My boy in VA says they have ran numerous GE blocks on stock head bolts and had great luck (not sure on torque specs). He says that nearly everytime the ARPS backed off. My car is going to be at his shop very soon. I switched from a cometic gasket to a bored out stock one hoping that may help. I was gonna stay with the ARPs but he swears that the stockies are better. Ive seen what this shop can do and they know what they are doing (helped on forcefeds 500hp turbo si). Everyone please post their opinions on this so I can decide on which one to go with (ARP or the stockies)............Thanks

 

Stock are NOT better, trust me. The thing is, NEW arp studs are supposed to be heat cycled and retorqued. Run the car for a hundred miles or so and pull the cams out and retorque the head. Some of your problem may have been the cometic gasket as well, i've had much better luck with the stock one. Now that your studs are used, you shouldn't have to retorque them, but it wouldn't hurt! Whatever you do, don't go back to stock bolts.

 

Yep, I'd also bet my money that your friend neglected to retorque the APR studs. I used oem bolts for awhile but switched to ARP for an increase in clamp load and distribution. After the first heat cycle I retorques them...they needed it. Everything works fine up to now.

 

Yeah guys thanks for the replies. I think I will stick with the ARPs cause i only torqued them to 70 the first time and i just found out GE recommends you torque them at 82. Plus on top of that i never went back around a second time to retorque them. Damn no wonder my gasket went out im a idiot for not following directions . Well thats how we learn from our mistakes. Hopefully someone will read this and not make the same mistake I did.

 

Torque, loosen, retorque x 3. best way to do it without having to disassemble the head after 1000miles.