Well my opinion has been just to go with the studs. $40 isn't exactly cheap, but it's a lot less than having to pull a head. If the bolt breaks off in the head, they're damn hard to extract, and in my case impossible on the back driver's side hole.

 

I just installed a set of jet hot coated dynatech headers this weekend on my 08. the install went like a breeze except for the o2 sensors. They were a pain in the behind. Only one came out with out some sort of thread damage. I'm going friday to get the cat back and the y pipe all fitting like I want. Hope fully I'll get it tuned next week.

 

Use quality bolts to fasten the headers to the heads, you'll thank yourself down the road when they're not broken. $40 is money well spent, cheap insurance...unless you like drilling bolts out of your heads lol

 

like i said guys, i'll do whatever is necessary to ONLY DO THIS ONCE.
thanks for all the input by the way. i'll get the studs for sure, but does anyone know if the arp kit for ls1 engines that i posted will fit our trucks?

 

O.P., the ARP kit should be the same, same head bolt config, same threads. Although, the ARP kit is about three times the cost of picking up OEM studs and nuts (hint, these studs and nuts were originally meant for the 4.3 V6, but the length of the studs and threads are a perfect match for the LS heads!).