Valve cover stud removal
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,790
Likes: 108
From: On the coast North of SF bay
Valve cover stud removal
Did a search on this and never found anything helpful except that a little heat might help. Installing some aluminum valve covers and the aluminum intake manifold prevents the new covers from seating.
Rather than cut the lip on the cover to compensate, I ordered some thicker gaskets, which has lead to replacing the studs because they are now too short.
Tried putting a pair of vice grips on a couple of them, but they don't budge and I sure don't want them to break off in the head.
Thought about locking two nut on them and putting a socket over them - what do you guys think?
Any helpful hints would be much appreciated.
BTW, these are iron heads...
Nick
Rather than cut the lip on the cover to compensate, I ordered some thicker gaskets, which has lead to replacing the studs because they are now too short.
Tried putting a pair of vice grips on a couple of them, but they don't budge and I sure don't want them to break off in the head.
Thought about locking two nut on them and putting a socket over them - what do you guys think?
Any helpful hints would be much appreciated.
BTW, these are iron heads...
Nick
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
Use a 50/50 mix of acetone and auto trans fluid. Wet the studs generously and let it soak for a few hours. Heat the studs almost red hot (don't catch the car on fire!) and while it's still warm, use more of the 50/50 mix. Give that a few hours and the studs should come out.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,790
Likes: 108
From: On the coast North of SF bay
Could have been from the factory for all I know. Have never had reason to touch them. How does/did the factory install those back in 75?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,790
Likes: 108
From: On the coast North of SF bay
Thanks to you guys, I got em out. Tried all the above, maybe I didn't let the atf/acetone set long enough, but in the end it was heat.
The heat was a delicate balance so that you didn't set residual oil afire, and still got enough heat to penetrate the area in the head and around the bolt.
The key was to not use the two locking nuts as the nuts were small and not strong enough to stand up against the pressure required to move the stud, even after the stud was heated.
So after taking the nuts off and heating each stud with a propane burner (one of the newer ones with 3 blue flames) for about ninety seconds and then waiting for another 60 or so seconds, the vice grips did the job.
Actually had to tighten the vice grips quite a bit and then used a large crescent wrench to get it going.
Now all I need to do is find the right wing bolt with a long enough thread - anyone seen a set of those.
Thanks guys,
Nick
The heat was a delicate balance so that you didn't set residual oil afire, and still got enough heat to penetrate the area in the head and around the bolt.
The key was to not use the two locking nuts as the nuts were small and not strong enough to stand up against the pressure required to move the stud, even after the stud was heated.
So after taking the nuts off and heating each stud with a propane burner (one of the newer ones with 3 blue flames) for about ninety seconds and then waiting for another 60 or so seconds, the vice grips did the job.
Actually had to tighten the vice grips quite a bit and then used a large crescent wrench to get it going.
Now all I need to do is find the right wing bolt with a long enough thread - anyone seen a set of those.
Thanks guys,
Nick
