Thought the stock engine could take 21 psi. Turns out the stock head studs/gasket couldn't handle it. The car puffs out white smoke whenever I shift.

Sooo time for a new engine! I am going to build a 6-bolt.

I don't trust myself to build it alone. Are there any reputable shops in the Ottawa area to build it for me? Or anyone that can help with the swap?

I am thinking

A1 headstuds
OEM MLS gasket

eagle/wiseco
ACL bearings
etc.

Any thoughts?

Tapp Auto used to be a good shop. Not sure about KVR.

If you have the money to build a new engine then all the power to you
You can 100% drive the car when you fix the HG and its a pretty simple process
Now is also the time to switch to ARP headstuds and possibly a cometic gasket
From personal experience running that kind of boost requires a frequent re torquing of the head studs

Ryan: Tapp wont touch any car that isn't European

Taylor: I have been wanting to build an engine for a while, and I have the money to use the parts I want.

BUT I was thinking for a quick fix I could just put in some new studs and torque them down, and maybe that will solve the problem for now?

If you blew the HG at 21 psi, then its most likely your tuning. I was running 30 psi on the stock HG and bolts and I was just fine.

Just because its blowing white smoke, does not mean it is definately the HG.

If your 100% sure it is, you don't necessarily need to rebuild the whole engine. Getting the head resurfaced and hand lapping the block should be good enough to throw on another HG, unless you really prefer a whole rebuild.

I'm running the A1's and Felpro 1153-1. It's the best combo out there, around $500 for both.

If you find that you are frequently retorqing the head studs, then something is not right and the seal is already done. Regular ARP's need only be retorqued after the first heat cycle.

Felpro permatorque does not require a retorque. 90ft lbs on the A1's with moly during assembly, and you won't need to go in there again

Ok thanks Reza. I don't think It is the tune, because I am running a pretty conservative one. My timing was zero'd out, and the afr was 11.6 by redline. I can post a log, but there wasn't any knock.

here is a video, you can see the smoke if you look carefully.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw-v4X8KbQQ

^^ shouldn't the afr be closer to 10.9/11.0 on pump gas to be "conserative"?

I was running a stock HG and Stock studs, maybe it was time for ARP, due to wear and stretching
Darren, you wont benefit from just putting new studs/bolts in if your HG is in fact done.
Plus if your going to have the valve cover off the head bolts out, why not unbolt the turbo from the manifold, remove the wiring and do the whole job?

For the build you are talking about, I think A1 and OEM MLS are overkill. Regular ARP's and Cometic should be plenty.

For your current engine, I would also think regular ARP's and an OEM felt headgasket would be plenty good...

I second the ARP/OEM Head Gasket combo.

Ghislain.

Third.

Tru A1's and Felpro are kind of overkill. Not for wimpy timing and boost levels though

Personally, I would not build another motor for my car without them. There are other different great combos as well.

So for your boost levels, even another stock HG and stock head bolts or regular ARP's, will do just fine.

Ok. Thanks for the help guys. I think what I will do is put in arp/stock head gasket for now as a quick fix, and then build a 6-bolt for the winter.

I must be getting behind the times.
What the hell are a1's?

A very expensive headstud, supposed to be best on the market.
L19's(made by arp) are another good set - but I hear the difference between them and the A1's are they way there treated.

I thought I heard they were equally good, but the difference was in the head size or washer size or something, a little more room to get at them or something. I heard the A1's were a little better for that reason..

Update: mitsu MLS headgasket + ARP head studs in the mail. As soon as I have a day off, head is coming off and going to LENTECH to get machined.

How much better can a frigin head stud get? What are people running 50 psi and detonation is acceptible now days? sheesh

I think all the guys running around 40psi and up are using the A1 or L19 head studs and the FelPro Perma Torque head gasket