Looking at putting in head studs in my 97 12 valve. What's involved, do I have to tap any holes etc. any recommended brands ?

As long as you don't have any threads boogered up there should be no reason to tap any holes. Are you replacing the head gasket as well or just replacing the studs one at a time?

H1 and ARP are the top two brands but Mighty Diesel are a lot cheaper. I wouldn't want to skimp when it came to studs though so H1 will be my next purchase.

As long as you don't have any threads boogered up there should be no reason to tap any holes. Are you replacing the head gasket as well or just replacing the studs one at a time?

Not sure, what do you suggest on the head gasket ? I am looking at upgrading my turbo and don't want to lift the head. Currently looking at an Aurora 3000 from ATS.

Depends on what kind of boost your running. I would talk to the manufacture of the head studs your looking at and ask them what kind of pressures your stock gasket will hold up to with their studs

I'm running #100 plate , 32 psi boost elbow on the stock HX35, 4" turbo back exhaust, Star wheel set about half way, just get a mild haze on heavy accel. Just looking for a little more power and some lower egts. That's the reason for upgrading the turbo. ATS says head studs not needed with the 3000, so I'm not sure. Open to more input as this is all new to me.

Unless you are going to be running 40+ psi boost consistently, in my opinion studs are a waste of money. If you upped the torque on the stock bolts you can get the head gasket to hold 50 psi boost, but the studs are a better option if you want to run that much boost. With studs you run a lot less risk of lifting the head and causing a gasket leak, but even if you do they are not bad to change. Your best bet would be to change them one by one and MAKE SURE you follow what the manufacturer of the studs say for instructions.

So pretty much I need to find out the max boost the 3000 will put out ?

Looks like it pushes around 35psi

Looks like it pushes around 35psi

Yeah there are betetr options than the 3000 for the money. Like ryan said - ARP or H1 really ...... I run ARP. H1 possibly better. Its a bit of a "debated" topic. Really after 35 psi should consider headstuds ...... but people have run stock bolts ober 50 psi no problems. Its just a $$ and a tiem thing if you blow a gasket. Replace 1x1 in correct fashion, no drilling or tapping ........ pretty easy but you will want a BIG and accurate torge wrench. Teh smaller the wrench the harder it will be.

Do you have to cut out rings in the head and/or block to insert the firing?