Well the failures I have seen on stock headbolts have been on very very abusive customers cars... like the type that only know how to drive with the throttle at 100%. The failure usually was a elongated head stud.

See here is the difference.. the regular SR20 ARP kit that is readily available today is about 25% thinner than the old kit that was badged VW 1.8....
The new studs are crap.. The old kits held up to those kinds of customers abuse.... I will show you the 2 different kinds of studs next time you swing by.. and you will be like WTF ?


Martin S.