Lb7: Should I install head studs?

Bustedknuckles

Bustedknuckles

Honey Badger
Well my head gaskets are blown in my 04 lb7,
I' m going with merchant automotives head
gasket set and getting the heads decked and
resealing the injector cups. My question is
whether its worth installing head studs or not, I
still have a stock turbo and injectors, I just have
a built trans, airdog, and Robs tunes and will
probably leave it at that because its fun and
reliable. I' m considering a HTT 66 mm turbo
someday because of egts but gonna stay with
stock or 30 % injectors. What do yall say?
 
I'd say studs since it's already torn apart and studs really aren't much money for a little piece of mind
 
bobcat67 said:
I'd say studs since it's already torn apart and studs really aren't much money for a little piece of mind
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Yea, Ive decided that I don't need them at all were I'm at performance wise but its a good idea in case I decide to go further with mods. I'm gonna get the gasket kit with studs from creatures of the night performance, its under $1,000!
Thanks everyone for the advice.
 
GRotman said:
The rods will bend before you need studs.
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Do. not. want. That's what Trent Nell had told me awhile ago. Would you say just do new stock bolts and call it good? Stock bolts and new gaskets will hold 45 psi of boost (no nitrous obviously) right?
 
Bustedknuckles said:
Do. not. want. That's what Trent Nell had told me awhile ago. Would you say just do new stock bolts and call it good? Stock bolts and new gaskets will hold 45 psi of boost (no nitrous obviously) right?
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Whats the price of studs VS new headbolts? With so many of these trucks needing headgaskets when the mileage gets a little high or they have ben worked hard, and the head bolts being torque to yield bolts, i tend to believe that bolts stretching is a probably a bit of a long term issue.
 
Bustedknuckles said:
Do. not. want. That's what Trent Nell had told me awhile ago. Would you say just do new stock bolts and call it good? Stock bolts and new gaskets will hold 45 psi of boost (no nitrous obviously) right?
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Once the gaskets are bedded in good they will hold a stock turbo and nitrous with the nastiest tune. I'd do studs if it was my truck, but if you aren't ever upgrading the turbo you don't need to worry about them. $.02
 
Why are you asking a Dodge forum about Duramax's LOL Were you not satisfied with the advice you received on DD? You honestly would be foolish not installing them. Unless you never plan on hot rodding your truck
 
paint94979 said:
Why are you asking a Dodge forum about Duramax's LOL Were you not satisfied with the advice you received on DD? You honestly would be foolish not installing them. Unless you never plan on hot rodding your truck
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Lol, these guys are my internets friends. I just ordered head gaskets and studs 20 minutes ago. It was only $320 more to do studs so it was a nobrainer imo.
 
GRotman said:
You have to pull the motor to get all the studs in.
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No you don't, just rubber band the rear studs in the head and drop them in after the heads in place. I just couldn't decide if it was worth the effort to save leaning over for hours but the torque converter bolts are a pita so I don't think I'm gonna. I know a guy who did studs one at a time without pulling the engine, he said it wasnt worth it though.......
 
As a note to anyone attempting this, there are one or two other things you have to take off to get the heads off, just thought id let yall know.....
 
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