ARP head stud frustration

[dmention7]

I can't be the first person to have run into this problem... so this is either a warning to anyone else upgrading to ARP head studs, or a chance for someone to point out what I'm doing wrong. lol

First of all, the washers for the studs were just a hair too large in diameter to fit down into the channels in the head, so I had to pull the head back off, stick the washers in place with some assembly lube, and then replace the head.

I breathed a small sigh of relief when I saw that the nuts were just barely small enough in diameter to fit down into the channels, but then I find that my smallest 14mm socket is too large in outside diameter to fit into the channel! F***! The channel has a diameter of 19.0mm, and my 3/8 and 1/2" drive 14mm sockets had ODs of 19.7 and 20.6mm

I just did some quick googling, and even thin-walled sockets look like they are going to be pushing the large side of 19mm. Do I have some freakishly machined head, or am I overlooking something dumb here? (entirely possible...)

 

[dmention7]

In case it's not clear what I'm talking about, here are a couple of pics....

 

[destineal]

OEM up in this b****?

 

[dmention7]

Man... I'm considering it just to keep things moving. This build has been fighting me every damn step of the way.

But am I really the first person to have trouble with the ARP head studs, or am I just the first person who didn't have the right thin wall socket on hand and got frustrated enough to post about it?

 

[Alamo1]

Good to know. Sorry about the problems.

 

[dmention7]

Bump for input from other folks with ARP studs...

 

[dmention7]

I know others have used ARP head studs... I'm really curious to know if anyone else has run into this problem.


Anyhow, I found this yesterday: https://www.amazon.com/dp/ (commissions earned) and I was able to find a post on a BMW forum stating the OD was 18mm, so it should work perfectly. Spending $30 on a single socket really sucks, but I guess it's better than spending $60 on a set of OEM head studs or disassembling the head again to grind those channels larger. Hopefully this saves someone else a headache down the road!

 

[SCMP3]

We had trouble with the washers on a couple of mine. But we got all the nuts on with no major hold up.

 

[Tzar177]

Thanks for the heads up. Was just about to do this in a week or so. I just checked with my 14mm deep socket and it does not fit

 

[dmention7]

I will post up as soon as I can verify that socket I bought will work.

 

[Tzar177]

When will you have it?

 

[dmention7]

I think Wednesday.

 

[dmention7]

So. I'm officially a damn idiot... it's not a 14mm nut, it's a 1/2" nut. (hand)

Which doesn't make my life any easier because none of my deep sockets are 12-point. The hunt continues....

 

[Tzar177]

So. I'm officially a damn idiot... it's not a 14mm nut, it's a 1/2" nut. (hand)

Which doesn't make my life any easier because none of my deep sockets are 12-point. The hunt continues....

Are u sure its 1/2"? I just checked my ARP nuts and my 1/2" sockets don't fit, but a 14mm socket fits nice. Did that socket you ordered fit down in the channels?

 

[dmention7]

My nuts were most definitely 1/2". The 14mm socket I ordered DID fit down in the channel, but it was too large for the nuts. To add insult to injury, a 12-point 1/2" deep socket only cost $4 at Menards. lol

If you're sure your nuts are 14mm, I'd be happy to sell you that socket I bought. Shoot me a PM if you're interested.

 

[justanothermp5]

the nuts are 1/2" 12 point for all FS head studs. I can 100% guarantee it

 

[dmention7]

Are u sure its 1/2"? I just checked my ARP nuts and my 1/2" sockets don't fit, but a 14mm socket fits nice. Did that socket you ordered fit down in the channels?

Are you using 12-point sockets? That was the facepalm mistake that led to me thinking they were 14mm nuts.

 

[Tzar177]

My sockets are 6 point, but I just tried my 12 point 1/2" wrench and it fits. Does the 12 point 1/2" deep socket fit down in the channels?

 

[dmention7]

Yeah, a 6 point 14mm will fit on there, but a 12 point will be too big. And trying to put 90 ft-lb on those nuts with a 6 point socket would be bad news.

The channel is 19mm wide. So if you don't have a calipers, just see if it's smaller than a 19mm wrench I guess. lol

 

[justanothermp5]

Yes, the 12 point 1/2" fits, I've used mine on multiple occasions on two different heads. Its a cheap kobalt socket from lowes. It was like $4, and you should def only use a 12 point socket, do not use a 6 point