Torque amount for a composite head gasket and ARP studs
 

I got a rebuilt 7MGTE motor from a local mechanic who also installed a metal head gasket along with ARP studs in the head. It runs strong however there is oil leaking in several places from the head gasket. Also, of the number 6 piston has a brown oily goo on it and it has the lowest compression at 135. I'm going to replace this metal head gasket with a Japan made Victor Reinz composite gasket using the ARP studs /lube. I was wondering how much to torque this combination. ARP recommends 90 foot pounds. That might be OK for a metal head gasket but with a composite head gasket I was considering just doing the usual 75 foot pounds with a later retorque. I found various opinions on the Internet.

I'd *personally*go with 75 if you're running studs/nuts to be honest, as the amount of torque that's required to produce the same downward pressure is less than the equivalent with bolts due to the reduced friction between nut/stud/washer compared to bolt thread/block thread and bolt head/washer... My reasoning being that 75-78lb/ft works fine for composite H/G and stock bolts so it should work fine with studs/nuts too. For ARP bolts on the other hand, I'd stick to their recommended torque.

Saying that, I don't think it'd do any harm to use ARP's recommended torques on studs/nuts either since, being the stud/nut or bolt manufacturers, they know what they're talking about & you won't be stripping any threads.

At the end of the day it's up to you but I don't think there'll be a problem using either setting as long as the lube you use is ARP too

ARP fasteners come with a spec sheet, use it. If for some reason you don't have it then call them. Studs are 90+ with moly... I don't recall the precise number but I know it's been posted a number of times in the past (a few times by myself).


EDIT: Go figure, it's in the FAQ and I even posted a link to ARP's PDF of the included instructions... This took all of 10 seconds to find, c'mon guys.
http://www.toyota-supra.info/forums/...and-studs.html

I called ARP and they told me that 90 foot pounds was the torque spec regardless of the type of head gasket being used. That is using their grease of course. For a re-torque they recommend backing off the nut one turn before going forward to final torque.