head studs while engine in car??

[iluv95stangs]

I will be doing my h/c/i soon and was wondering if it is possible to installe the head studs with the motor in the car? I have worked on others before that is was not possible to do so because the head would not come off or go on with the studs installed.

 

[baglock1]

It can be done, but there is a trick required to do it. You'll have to unbolt the motor mounts and jack up either side of the motor to get the heads to clear the strut towers. It really isn't that big of a deal.

Basically, you loosen one side and completely remove the nut on the other. Jack up that side and unbolt the head and remove it. Then lower that side back down, put the nut back on (thread it down but not tight), and then remove the other nut and jack up that side of the engine.

 

[iluv95stangs]

thanks for the reply baglock. I figured it could be done.

 

[Dave95GT]

My heads came off and went on without loosening anything with the motor in the car.

 

[baglock1]

With head studs? Admittedly, I've never had to deal with it on an SN-95, but every Fox I've seen with head studs had to rotate the motor to clear the strut towers.

 

[Daves94vert]

I've done mine w/o unbolting the engine. If I remember correctly, I think the heater hose or ac lines made it difficult on pass side.

 

[yellow1995Cobra]

Ive done it as well with a 302, and it works fine with the studs. No ubolting the motor mounts.

It also works with a 351 in the car as well. Except some studson one side need to be put in after the head is placed down, and vice versa. The arp studs have spots on the top for allen wrench so its very simple.

 

[95stangGT]

So when buying head studs should you go 6 point or spend the $15-20 for 12 point?

 

[jocko]

what size do you buy and do you have to rethread the block for 1/2 inch?i see most aftermarket heads need 1/2 inch bolts or spacers(afr,tfs)

 

[nmcgrawj]

what size do you buy and do you have to rethread the block for 1/2 inch?i see most aftermarket heads need 1/2 inch bolts or spacers(afr,tfs)

They sale reducers for you to use with heads that are 1/2"

 

[loud 95]

I bought the ARP head stud kit that is a direct replacement for the stock size head bolts. The biggest thing to remember is to clean the threads in the block prior to installation, as there is potential for binding if you do not. It was a breeze to install the new heads, other than dealing with some EGR pieces that were in the way. I simply tied them out of the way, and intalled the new heads.

 

[iluv95stangs]

Ok guys so I guess I will not have to lift the motor. Thanks for the info. Just trying to get all my "ducks in a row" before I dive in.

 

[Dan95-5.0]

i recall reading a car craft magazine where they installed a set of trickflow heads on a foxbody and they installed either just the top studs or bottom studs and then put the heads on and installed the rest of the studs after.