head studs

[jwatso8]

i was reading some guys have head studs but i dont thank there heads are fire-ringed/o-ringed (same thing right?) anyways my question is there any gain by just adding the head studs with out the fire-ringed head? would the head gasket hold 40psi with just head studs? thanks guy's

[mprmn08]

firerings and orings are diff. orings are a wire fitted into the head and firerings have a groove cut into the head and you run a special head gasket that has the firering on that cut out. with firerings you NEED head studs with orings you dont really need it but you should. I've heard with a stock head and studs you can run bout 50 psi safely so i would say yes there is an advantage if you dont wanna get orings cut in.

[jwatso8]

mprmn08 thanks, so theres no groove cut in the head for o-rings right?

so say i was to get my head fire-ringed at the standard bore. than later on when i rebuild the engine, i was wanting to put after market pistions in. like .020 over, would i have to get a new head or can you just get new grooves cut or special head gasket? thanks

[mprmn08]

there is groove cut in the head with both. the one for orings is alot smaller though. and if you bore .02 over you'll still be fine with firerings or orings.

[jwatso8]

thanks for clearing that up for me. where's a good place to get that done? i seen that the fire-ring gasket is around $255 but couldnt find prices for the michining. does anyone know the cost? thanks