The day has come, work a little to play a little. During the install of the PTE76GTS, I noticed some coolant around the heads/block, both sides, like a tear drop from a 4.8L who's been gettin beat on . A few nights priors to the swap, I was really cranking the MP70 for her last days. I included a HPtuners log showing one of the many 1st-4th gear pull with boost mostly 17-18psi area and on the 3/4 shift it spiked 19.9PSI. This was on Stock Gaskets/Head studs, so I figure they put a hell of a fight for nearly 90k miles of many many many pulls being at or above 15psi.
I drained the oil and seemed normal and the over flow was only slightly low.

(For those who can view HPtuners logs, I only run a 2bar sensor, but also log fuel pressure. My fuel pressure base is 60psi with a 1/1 pressure rise and is dead on to my MAP sensor till it maxes out. From that point I go off my FP sensor to figure out my actual boost.)

Leaning forward, after talking to user "Skinnies" on ls1 tuning who runs a stock 5.3 w/ tc78 to 8.98 at 154.7 in a Rx7. He's running ls9 gaskets, ARP studs. Ls9 gaskets are 7 layer MLS instead of the stock 3 layer MLS, however a larger bore but he says he hasn't had a problem and hell has a 8 second car.

So, that was my plan for the weekend when my blood alcohol level was normal again. All was going good till I went to re-install the drivers side head. I have an 04 truck so I ordered ARP 234-4317, 04+ and newer studs. WRONG. I have 3 sizes of studs, checked the build date and my truck is a 12/03. So I have a 04, built in 03... Ok Corrert kit is ARP 234-4316 (99-03)

So truck will be down next week till I get some studs in and head back on. Really hope she seals up nice and I can get back to the track!!! Wish me luck guys and check those damn build dates before ordering studs!

 

gl with build

 

I haven't gotten my ARP studs yet, but soon... how does it say to torque the studs into the head? Is it the two-nut method?

 

Hand tight, the stud is NOT suppose to be tightened all the way into the head.

 

How do you check your build date?

 

What kind of valve covers are those?

 

Correct hand tight, then torque in sequence to 80lb with ARP lube for the main studs, the smaller ones are less but the directions tell you.

Your build date is located on the drivers side door. I've been asked a few times on the valve covers. Could not tell you, I got them out of the trader new, but the seller couldn't tell me either. I know the coils mount like stock, there pretty sweet.

 

Are you going to install the LS9 HG's dry or w/copper spray?

 

Nice to see those valve covers I sold you are being put to good use. They are CNC'd billet and the fit and finish is beautiful.

 

I never have gotten the head studs right the first time...no matter what motor I was ordering them for. Next time, I'm going to intentionally order the wrong ones. At least that way, I have a chance