Reusing Apexi head gasket and ARP head studs

[mikeroy420]

Can you reuse an Apexi head gasket and ARP head studs for a 1.8T if the motor never ran? I was assembling my engine and discovered that I had a valve job problem so I had to unbolt the head and take it back to the machine shop. I have searched many forums and can't seem to get a straight answer as to whether you can reuse the head gasket and studs. If I can reuse these, should I use copper spray on the head gasket? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[GroundPerformance]

You never used it so its fine.. I'd put copper spray if it has been used.

[mikeroy420]

It was torqued to 70ft/lbs. Then removed. So were it never ran, dont use the copper spray. What about the head studs? Should measure these to see if they stretched?

[Sam_Well.13]

im sure you can, as long as the engine didnt run and the material didnt get exposed to heat. i see people re-sell USED headstuds.. dont see why you cant use yours when you havent even gotten the engine started.

[theboy]

yes check to see if they stretched, usually you can still get away with them being a little longer. As for the head gasket, give i the once over, if it seems like theres no issues then use it, but if theres any problems at all (small blemishes, indents, tares, scratches, ect.) then go buy a new one. It may be fine, but are you really willing to risk blowing it out and cause other damage down the road? Would you reuse toilet paper if you only whipped once and noting stuck to it?

[Wake]

Dude they are ARP studs they didnt fucking stretch.

As previously stated it didnt run, therefore was not exposed to heat.
Put it all back together and run it.
Theres your straight answer.

And I dont only wipe once no matter what the visual results, so uh, yeah put that in your bowl and flush it.

[theboy]

lol, its a personal preference, i like using fresh paper, but i think im just a clean person.

but back on topic, yes you could be fine. id give it a 90% chance your fine. But ive put a ton of motors together (circle track, drag, street, etc.) and ive had the scenario where it worked just fine and lasted, but ive also had the "oh shit" it blew a head gasket and lifted the head, warped the block and head and now im rebuilding everything. Just going off my experiences.

[Wake]

yeah well theres always going to be an OHSHIT factor thats almost unpreventable, and yes alll parts should be given a look over whether new or used or installed and never used.

But ARP studs stretching after only being installed is not something I would be concerned with.

[mikeroy420]

My main concern is the headgasket. It just seems like such a waste to not reuse it.

[renegade_ewok]

#/f/engine-tech/311224-old-arp-studs-lube-question.html

Read it, its quick.

[D.Adams]

My main concern is the headgasket. It just seems like such a waste to not reuse it.



I have re used my head gasket 2 times so far. But thats as far as i want to take it. You are good use copper spray

YOU ARE OK TO USE IT < just so you understand

[RebornS14.HTC]

my .2cents


in your situation, i would reuse it. a apex-i headgasket ain't cheap =P

[steve shadows]

I have done this several times on my old race car.

Just make sure to clean the used HG a lot then use lots of COPPER spray gasket on the HG before reinstalling on the motor, you'll be fine.


ARP, I wouldnt re-use more than twice

[mikeroy420]

I have done this several times on my old race car.

Just make sure to clean the used HG a lot then use lots of COPPER spray gasket on the HG before reinstalling on the motor, you'll be fine.


ARP, I wouldnt re-use more than twice


Steve, when you say you wouldnt use the ARP studs more then twice. Does this apply if the motor wasnt running? I use used them to torque the torque plate on for doing the ring gaps and then for the problem listed above. So I have torque them twice, but the motor hasnt ran.

[240Shwag]

They have only had the nuts torque applied to them.
IMO, they are not "used" since they have never seen pressure from a running engine.

I bet the FT lbs of energy used to machine threads onto the studs was far greater then 80, but less then the amount of force the head is going to apply to them when then engine is running.

The gasket should be okay too.