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More helip needed on heads.
I installed new:
timing chain
cam & lifter
rocker arms & pushrods
restored number matching #770 heads.
it did not dawn upon me to check heads, because I puchased from Corvette engine restoration shop.
One rocker arm felt different when adjusting lifter.
after removing I see rocker arm stud is slanted differently than the other studs, a noticeable tilt towards spark plug.
it is visually significant but not ridiculously bent.
what needs to be done to fix?
Can engine run with lifter adjustment or does head need to come off?
Thanks,
Eric
Be very very careful with this...if that stud was replaced it may not have been installed correctly or it may not now be able to withstand the pressures that will be placed upon it. If that is the case it will break off and your pushrod will either bend or worse. An inferior quality stud that is installed incorrectly will cause failure. Obtain a guarantee from the shop. I have seen this happen before, and the owner was then required to remove and alter the heads, and use screw in studs in order to resolve the problem. Hardened pushrods will also be needed. Of course the damage will occur while out on the road. I am sure others will add to this important thread.
From: Middle TN by way of KY, OH, VA, IL, CA, FL, NY, SC, HI
Originally Posted by Eric Sakai
More helip needed on heads.
I installed new:
timing chain
cam & lifter
rocker arms & pushrods
restored number matching #770 heads.
it did not dawn upon me to check heads, because I puchased from Corvette engine restoration shop.
One rocker arm felt different when adjusting lifter.
after removing I see rocker arm stud is slanted differently than the other studs, a noticeable tilt towards spark plug.
it is visually significant but not ridiculously bent.
what needs to be done to fix?
Can engine run with lifter adjustment or does head need to come off?
Thanks,
Eric
Erik;
This is a '58, with an OEM, or equivalent, 283 right?
Do you recall if the lifter stud was out of line earlier?
When you say "one rocker felt different" what was it that felt different and was it the one where the stud is "tilted?" Is this stud also standing taller than the others? If you back off the rocker to unload the rocker tension, can you grab it and rock it in any direction? I assume that you did not have your studs pinned? Have you gone to a more radical cam and/or did you go to high rate valve springs?
Last edited by Easy Rhino; Feb 9, 2020 at 07:10 PM.
Look at the stud where it meets the boss in the head. If it has been replaced with a screw in stud you will notice a ring around the stud. If they tapped it crooked there's not a lot you can do with the head still on. If it is mostly only tilted towards the exhaust but still fairly parallel in plane to the other studs it wouldn't hurt anything. Your worst case scenario is it's out in that plane and could possibly cause the rocker arm to rub the side. If there no evidence of that from before I would say you are good to go. The stud just holds a ball as long as the rocker tip is aligned with the valve bolt it up.
If you have a bent stud just stack several 3/8 washers or a larger nut under a 3/8-24 nut and pull t out. You can buy a replacement from pioneer. Do not install a +.003 unless it already has one. You would be able to see it's a little larger where it presses in. To reinstall put a sacrificial nut on the stud with the stud just below flush put some red Loctite in the hole and drive it in to the same height as the others.
I don't know how to post pics via pm so here goes. Look at this stud you should see the top of where it meets the boss if it has one. Then this pic shows what I was talking about pulling your stud with washers. After you pull it a bit then you'll have to add more washers until it comes out. This is an easy job no need to remove the head. If you can post a close up pic of the stud boss I can tell you which you have.
Cylinder Heads Stud problem
