If you make your way over to NESA, we have found a way to source the ARP headstud kit for under $100. The link is below.
http://www.nesaab.org/forum/index.php?topic=927.0

 

My buddy is friends with an ARP dealer, I was gonna see what he could get them for. But I guess its time to join NESA

 

No need to join, just trying to save everybody some money! And we always like traffic to our site.

 

I have the kit listed above in my vehicle, have 500+ miles on them now. Still perfect. Definitely a more economic option in these times.

 

i ordered them aswell..... cant wait to install
JP

 

You know why I quit using the straight shank bolts? Anyway good luck.. The Pinto is a Iron head motor. Not as much thermal expansion. The undercut studs are needed for the Alu heads. Maybe not for a while but you will have some issues. This application has been discussed with a couple engineers at ARP.

 

Can you explain more about what makes these "undercut" studs please different than the "straight shank bolts"?

Thanks in advance.

 

Sounds like undercut ones have more flex (more forgiving on aluminum head), but I'm sure Nick will elaborate.

 

We had some "issues" with the non undercut studs after many miles and after working with the engineers at ARP and a few other sources we cam to the conclusion that the undercut would be better. They have been in my vig for many warmup cycles and no issues along with many other cars.. But its not my problem.

 

But its not my problem.

So what, pray tell, is?

 

ehhh.... many many miles sounds fine with me. if something breaks... ill just repair it
JP

 

Part number for the saab ones?

 

I think it is

5955794

 

Just wondering what kind of "issues" you found that you ran into?

 

doesnt seem like he wants to disclose that info.... but when i run into such issues i will tell you
JP

 

Looking to replace the head gasket on my 95 Aero, and have been looking at these threads. If there's problems with the straight ARP studs, wouldn't the same problem exist with the factory head bolts, since they are also straight walled .......... Anyone else thinking along these lines ? Is anyone running the Pinto studs, and if so, how are they holding up ?

 

14k miles on Pinto headstuds...... no problems yet.. half of which were with a holset..

Daveship has them in his 9-5 actually, and i believe its been running its current configuration for 30k or so

 

ive had mine in for almost a year now ... daily driven ... no issues to report .. but i didnt know about this "issue" until right now lol

 

maybe if we know the issue with the cheaper pinto studs then we would buy your fancy ones nick!!

 

The engineers we worked with at arp for both my car and Eds had lots to say about it.

in short:
The undercut studs make them more elastic.
Aluminum head on Iron block has considerably different expansion rates than Iron head.
Without the elastic help of the studs you have great changes in preload, this generally showing up in overload in the head gasket and pulling the bolts into the head.
This all is magnified by the number of heat/cool cycles. Road cars have more of this than say a racecar that only goes out a couple weekends a month.

 

so the undercut bolts hold better for racing but for a DD go with the straight cut from genuine?

 

vise versa^

all I can say is my car has 15k on them now with no issues. But Im not an engineer from ARP, and I don't design and build custom saab performance parts.