ARP Main Bearing Studs - Worth it on a stock bottom end?

[StorminMatt]

I am going to need to pull the oilpan from the motor in order to install the front sump pickup for my swap (and to replace it with the front sump pan, of course). And I will need to remove at least one main bearing bolt to fasten it down (the pickup is fastened down by main bearing bolts). This makes me wonder whether it might be a good idea to replace the main bearing bolts with, say, ARP main bearing studs. Is this generally worthwhile? A friend of mine says NO. But might studs be useful in order to support increased HP in the future? This IS something that I have to think about, especially since it will be IMPOSSIBLE to remove the oilpan from the motor once the motor is in the car.

[red_z28]

You should get the block align honed after you install studs. i would wait till you have the motor out, if you ever plan on having it out. stock bolts should be plenty strong for now.

[RamAir95TA]

+1. That's something that needs to be done with the motor out and on a stand.

[AChotrod]

Sounds like the motor is out already??? You can do them one at a time, although the proper way is to have the block align honed like mentioned.

[StorminMatt]

I think I will probably just leave things the way they are for now. Once you pull the thing apart to align hone the block, you are going to want to spend money on doing other things with the bottom end - money which, at this time, I would rather just spend on getting the motor into the car and running. Of course, ARP also makes conventional main bearing cap bolts. And they are dirt cheap from Summit (around $20 or so). But I don't know if going this route will also require machine work.

[gregrob]

Put rod bolts in it