C1 & C2 Corvettes General C1 Corvette & C2 Corvette Discussion, Technical Info, Performance Upgrades, Project Builds, Restorations

Replace threaded rocker stud

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 2, 2021 | 09:27 PM
  #1  
Mike-64C2's Avatar
Mike-64C2
Thread Starter
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 203
Likes: 34
From: San Antonio, TX
Default Replace threaded rocker stud

I need help from someone with some expertise. I had a rocker stud fail in the 327 on my 64. It is threaded (originals were press-fit) and cracked beneath the surface of the head. My intent is to drill a hole and get an extraction tool in there to remove it, but it was a complete fail. The drill didn't go anywhere. Obviously I'm not doing this right. Can anyone suggest an effective way to get this stud out?

Reply
Old Mar 2, 2021 | 09:41 PM
  #2  
jim lockwood's Avatar
jim lockwood
Race Director
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 60 Days
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15,408
Likes: 8,839
From: northern california
C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Default

The way my favorite machine shop would approach this: Fixturing the head securely on a Bridgeport, they would run a tiny end mill into the stud and move it around in a circular path. That will make the stud just a thin shell which can then be collapsed on itself and extracted..... possibly in pieces. The threads will not be damaged by this process.

There may be other ways of extracting what's left of that stud, of course.
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2021 | 09:57 PM
  #3  
Robert61's Avatar
Robert61
Safety Car
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 4,617
Likes: 1,547
From: Olive branch Ms
Default

There's nothing but stud in that hole? Get good drill bit. An American made high speed steel or cobalt. Drill carefully starting with a small drill the drill it to 1/4" making sure to stay centered and true. Get a good stud extractor again American made no Harbor Freight here. With the extractor in the hole use a little heat to loosen any Loctite. The stud should not be that tight as there's no nut and you could only tighten it so much.
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2021 | 10:01 PM
  #4  
Mike-64C2's Avatar
Mike-64C2
Thread Starter
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 203
Likes: 34
From: San Antonio, TX
Default

Originally Posted by Robert61
There's nothing but stud in that hole? Get good drill bit. An American made high speed steel or cobalt. Drill carefully starting with a small drill the drill it to 1/4" making sure to stay centered and true. Get a good stud extractor again American made no Harbor Freight here. With the extractor in the hole use a little heat to loosen any Loctite. The stud should not be that tight as there's no nut and you could only tighten it so much.
ok, I think I might need to upgrade the drill bit and extractors then. That picture is how I found it so I am assuming that it's only stud in there. Thanks for the tip.
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2021 | 10:21 PM
  #5  
Kerrmudgeon's Avatar
Kerrmudgeon
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 19,777
Likes: 4,592
From: Canada's capital
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Default

I would try a good quality extractor as well,

BUT.....maybe my eyes are getting old but that looks like a helicoil in that hole. Anyone else see that?.....if that's the case it's no wonder an undersized screw in stud broke. I've never even heard of a screw in stud snapping off like that. That's the reason we take out the press fit ones....to avoid stuff breaking.
Who put the studs in?......I'd like to ask him if someone was messing with them before somehow.
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2021 | 10:27 PM
  #6  
Mike-64C2's Avatar
Mike-64C2
Thread Starter
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 203
Likes: 34
From: San Antonio, TX
Default

Originally Posted by Kerrmudgeon
I would try a good quality extractor as well,

BUT.....maybe my eyes are getting old but that looks like a helicoil in that hole. Anyone else see that?.....if that's the case it's no wonder an undersized screw in stud broke. I've never even heard of a screw in stud snapping off like that. That's the reason we take out the press fit ones....to avoid stuff breaking.
Who put the studs in?......I'd like to ask him if someone was messing with them before somehow.
Kerrmudgeon I see what you're seeing now, it could be a helicoil. I bought the car last year so I don't know who did this work. I just want to get the thing fixed to get me to later this year when I do an engine rebuild and get a set of new heads.
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2021 | 10:48 PM
  #7  
Robert61's Avatar
Robert61
Safety Car
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 4,617
Likes: 1,547
From: Olive branch Ms
Default

When you say this is how you found it does that mean it was running fine and a stud broke or you got it like this? Sure looks like an eazy out in there to me. That's why a drill won't touch it. I hope I'm wrong.
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2021 | 10:49 PM
  #8  
Mark in MN's Avatar
Mark in MN
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 237
Likes: 116
From: Western suburbs of Minneapolis
Default

Not an expert but should the top of the boss the stud screws into have been milled smooth so it could seat properly?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-6

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
Old Mar 2, 2021 | 11:02 PM
  #9  
59BlueSilver's Avatar
59BlueSilver
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,000
Likes: 1,056
From: Arlington TX
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Default

That stud looks like hardened steel to me!
Reply
Old Mar 3, 2021 | 12:34 AM
  #10  
65 Pro Vette's Avatar
65 Pro Vette
Safety Car
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,880
Likes: 1,282
From: Horsham Pa
C2 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Default

The easiest way to get those out if the drill an easy out fail is to place a nut on top of the stud and someone with good welding skills weld the nut to the top of the stud let it cool and back it out with a wrench the same way you would do exhaust manifold studs that break off the weld does not stick good to the cast-iron but will stick good to the stud if done properly.
Reply
Old Mar 3, 2021 | 12:53 AM
  #11  
R66's Avatar
R66
Le Mans Master
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 7,423
Likes: 2,597
From: Really Central IL Illinois
Default

It is best to use a "left hand" fluted drill bit when drilling to remove a "right hand" threaded bolt. The "left hand" drill bit with the drill in reverse helps loosen the bolt and in some cases will even back it out. The "left Hand" drills are not cheap, especially good quality stainless or cobalt bits, but last.
Reply
Old Mar 3, 2021 | 07:06 AM
  #12  
MikeM's Avatar
MikeM
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
Default

That valve looks like the top end of the stem is dome shaped rather than flat suggesting the rocker was run loose or the rocker is cracked in the seat?

If that's true, the head needs to come off to repair the valve.
Reply
Old Mar 3, 2021 | 07:24 AM
  #13  
Frankie the Fink's Avatar
Frankie the Fink
Team Owner
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,145
Army
Default

Machines shop job as Jim suggested earlier. If you break off an extractor you’ll be hating life.
Reply
Old Mar 3, 2021 | 08:00 AM
  #14  
Robert61's Avatar
Robert61
Safety Car
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 4,617
Likes: 1,547
From: Olive branch Ms
Default

Originally Posted by Mark in MN
Not an expert but should the top of the boss the stud screws into have been milled smooth so it could seat properly?

The type of stud he has doesn't have an integral nut, it's just a threaded stud. This is how these studs are installed. There's nothing t seat so no need for a square surface.

I think looking at the pic there is JB Weld around the stud making it look like a Helicoil. There's a piece of it off to the left as well. Don't panic just drill it straight and pull it out. Snap On sells a set of extractors that are square, they are very tough and a good bit harder to break. There's no way I would even consider pulling that head. I would have that stud out before you got the exhaust off to remove the bottom row of head bolts.

Last edited by Robert61; Mar 3, 2021 at 08:02 AM.
Reply
Old Mar 3, 2021 | 09:12 AM
  #15  
Mike-64C2's Avatar
Mike-64C2
Thread Starter
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 203
Likes: 34
From: San Antonio, TX
Default

Originally Posted by Robert61
When you say this is how you found it does that mean it was running fine and a stud broke or you got it like this? Sure looks like an eazy out in there to me. That's why a drill won't touch it. I hope I'm wrong.
To clarify, the car was running well, then I started hearing a ticking noise. Still running well. Valve adjustment/rocker was probably getting loose but the stud was still intact and engine still seemed ok. As I was trying to locate the origin of the noise, the ticking noise remained and all of a sudden the car was missing. This is probably when the stud had broken apart. I did a compression test to isolate the bad cylinder and took the cover off to find the broken stud.
Reply
Old Mar 3, 2021 | 09:13 AM
  #16  
Mike-64C2's Avatar
Mike-64C2
Thread Starter
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 203
Likes: 34
From: San Antonio, TX
Default

Originally Posted by Robert61
The type of stud he has doesn't have an integral nut, it's just a threaded stud. This is how these studs are installed. There's nothing t seat so no need for a square surface.

I think looking at the pic there is JB Weld around the stud making it look like a Helicoil. There's a piece of it off to the left as well. Don't panic just drill it straight and pull it out. Snap On sells a set of extractors that are square, they are very tough and a good bit harder to break. There's no way I would even consider pulling that head. I would have that stud out before you got the exhaust off to remove the bottom row of head bolts.
I will check the Snap-On site for the extractors you refer to, thanks.
Reply
Old Mar 3, 2021 | 11:10 AM
  #17  
John BX NY's Avatar
John BX NY
Drifting
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,945
Likes: 405
From: Bronx New York
Default

If the stud failed is there a chance the camshaft is wiped ?
Reply
Old Mar 3, 2021 | 12:29 PM
  #18  
Robert61's Avatar
Robert61
Safety Car
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 4,617
Likes: 1,547
From: Olive branch Ms
Default

Originally Posted by Mike-64C2
I will check the Snap-On site for the extractors you refer to, thanks.

The ones I would suggest are C47B.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Replace threaded rocker stud





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:02 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-1
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE