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What drivers say about XOTIC PERFORMANCE™
Head Stud Kit - 2007-2017 Chevrolet LSX Small Block
PART # SKU CP888
Original price
£318.00
-
Original price
£318.00
Original price
£318.00
£318.00
-
£318.00
Current price
£318.00
Availability:
Low stock
Seal the Power. Drive with Confidence.
Your truck deserves strength you can count on. This head stud kit is built for street-driven and moderately modified builds, giving you dependable sealing and confidence whether you’re daily driving, towing, or adding small performance upgrades.
Why Drivers Choose XOTIC PERFORMANCE™
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Everyday Confidence – Keeps your head gasket sealed during normal use and light performance mods.
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Trusted Reliability – Prevents common sealing issues so you can focus on the road, not repairs.
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All-In-One Kit – Includes studs, washers, and nuts, for a secure, hassle-free install.
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Durability That Lasts – Precision-machined and finished to resist wear and corrosion.
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Limited Lifetime Warranty – Backed by XOTIC PERFORMANCE™ for total peace of mind.
Perfect for drivers who want proven reliability without going overboard — this kit is your upgrade for everyday dependability.
INSTALL GUIDE
This guide covers installation of the XOTIC PERFORMANCE™ CP888 head stud kit for the 2007–2017 Chevrolet LSX small block. The LSX iron block uses more head fasteners than a production LS — 23 stud positions per head in five length groups — and several studs enter the water jackets, so this install has two steps a standard LS job doesn't. Running a production LS? See the 2004+ Gen III/IV guide (CP883) or the 1999–2003 Gen III guide (CP887). Prefer a printable copy? Download the PDF manual.
Why the LSX needs head studs
Factory OEM head bolts are torque-to-yield: you torque them to a specified value, then add a final 90° rotation that stretches the bolt to its maximum point. If you're building on an LSX block, you're building for power — boost, nitrous, or high compression — and that means cylinder pressures far beyond what torque-to-yield bolts were designed to clamp against. The result of insufficient clamp force: a blown head gasket.
Head studs are engineered to resist stretching. XOTIC PERFORMANCE™ head studs are manufactured from our premium XOTIC 7200 steel alloy, superior in tensile strength to any bolt, and backed by a lifetime warranty. The key to getting that strength into your engine is accurate preload — the tensile force generated when a fastener is tightened, creating clamp force in the joint. Everything in this guide is in service of achieving equal, accurate preload across all 46 studs.
What's in the CP888 kit
- 46 × head studs (XOTIC 7200 alloy) — 20 × M11 studs, 26 × M8 studs
- 46 × hardened parallel washers (including larger 0.675" washers for the lower M8 row)
- 46 × nuts
- 2 × sockets
- 2 × allen wrenches
- 1 × fastener assembly lubricant
Before you start: verify first
Confirm that part number CP888 is compatible with your application (Chevrolet LSX small block) before installing any components. Inspect all package contents and clean as necessary to ensure accurate installation. Report any obvious defects or shipping damage to us before proceeding.
How to install head studs on an LSX small block
- Clean the block threads. Clean the threads in the block prior to installing the studs to ensure proper fitment and accurate torque readings. Dedicated thread chasers make this fast and protect the threads: M11 x 2.00 (CS324) and M8 x 1.25 (CS317).
- Seal the water-jacket studs. For studs that enter water jackets, apply a thread sealer to the block-end threads. This prevents coolant seepage.
- Install the studs hand-tight — by length and position. Thread the head studs into the block by hand until snug in the positions shown in the manual's diagram; do not apply torque. Use the placement table below.
- Check stud height with a straightedge. Use a straightedge ruler to measure the distance from the mating surface (deck or main cap) to the top of each installed stud. Ensure all studs of the same length group sit level with each other (within 1 mm / 0.040”). Uneven height may indicate debris or incorrect thread engagement. Properly installed studs will bottom out smoothly and show uniform height across all positions. If a stud appears higher or lower than the others, remove it, re-clean the hole, and reinstall by hand. Do not use tools to force studs deeper. Incorrect stud seating can cause off-angle stress, uneven preload, or stud fracture during engine operation.
- Set the gasket and head. Install the head gasket and cylinder head, ensuring proper alignment.
- Clean the washer seating areas. Clean the washer seating surfaces on the cylinder head with a fast-evaporating solvent such as non-chlorinated brake cleaner to remove oil, grease, and contaminants. A clean surface is essential for achieving proper fastener preload.
- Lubricate. Using the supplied fastener assembly lubricant, lubricate the stud threads and the bottom surface of the nuts.
- Install the nuts and torque in sequence. Thread the nuts onto the studs, hand-tighten until they contact the washers, then follow the torque stages below in the numbered sequence shown in the manual's diagram.
LSX stud placement by position
| Positions | Stud | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–8 | M11 × 5.050" | Primary row |
| 9–10 | M11 × 5.150" | Longer M11 studs |
| 11–15 | M8 × 2.725" | Upper M8 row |
| 16–19 | M8 × 2.550" | Lower M8 row — use the larger 0.675" washers |
| 20–23 | M8 × 2.725" | Lifter-valley studs — pass through the head into the valley |
Don't skip the thread sealer. Studs that enter the water jackets need sealer on the block-end threads before installation. Miss this and you'll chase a coolant seep after assembly — with the heads already torqued down.
LSX head stud torque specs
11mm studs (nuts 1–10, three stages)
| Stage | Torque |
|---|---|
| 1 | 30 ft-lbs |
| 2 | 60 ft-lbs |
| 3 (final) | 90 ft-lbs |
8mm studs (nuts 11–23)
Torque nuts 11 through 23 to 30 ft-lbs.
A common mistake to avoid: when torquing a fastener, do not stop short of the recommended value — continue in one motion until the specified torque is achieved. If you accidentally stop short, loosen the fastener and re-torque. Stopping short and "topping up" produces unequal preload distribution across the studs and risks joint failure.
Frequently asked questions
What are the torque specs for LSX head studs?
11mm studs (nuts 1–10): three stages — 30 ft-lbs, then 60 ft-lbs, then a final pass at 90 ft-lbs, in the numbered sequence. 8mm studs (nuts 11–23): 30 ft-lbs.
Which studs need thread sealer?
Any stud that enters a water jacket gets thread sealer on the block-end threads before installation. Check the manual's diagram for your block — this is what prevents coolant seepage past the stud threads.
Which positions use the larger washers?
Positions 16–19 (the lower M8 row) use the larger 0.675" washers. All other positions use the standard hardened parallel washers.
Does the CP888 kit fit a production LS block?
No — this kit is for the LSX block's expanded fastener layout. Production engines use the CP883 kit (2004+) or the CP887 kit (1999–2003).
Need help?
For technical support, email support@xotic-performance.com. All XOTIC PERFORMANCE™ fasteners are covered by our limited lifetime warranty. Finished your install? Tag #XOTICPERFORMANCE on Instagram for a chance to be featured.
© 2026 XOTIC PERFORMANCE™. This installation guide is an original copyrighted work of XOTIC PERFORMANCE™. Reproduction, distribution, or use of this content in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Doc ref: 2025.10.19 (web edition 2026.08).
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