screw in rocker studs, a do it your self project??

[drakede]

Has anyone done screw in studs themselves? My son is about to put his new motor in his car and the final assembly problem he has is the rocker arms. We are using 70's era 302 heads on his 289 and they have non-adjustable press-in studs. Can two bozos with a stud puller and a tap do this?

 

[HistoricMustang]

I would not suggest a "do it yourself" job. Small block Fords can have valve train problems and there is no reason to increase the odds.

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

 

[Loup-garou]

There is a tool out there (I've only seen the SB Chevy version in the Summit catalog) which slips over one stud and provides a guide to keep the tap straight as the adjacent hole is threaded. I'm not sure if there's a Ford version, or if the stud spacing is the same - perhaps someone else would know.

 

[1320stang]

Well, based on past experience with a set of heads that a previous owner most likely did the same thing, and the result was about 6 bent pushrods in a 2 year period, I'd say no. I can, however, sell you a set of heads already done that way for a good price.

 

[drakede]

Well, based on past experience with a set of heads that a previous owner most likely did the same thing, and the result was about 6 bent pushrods in a 2 year period, I'd say no. I can, however, sell you a set of heads already done that way for a good price.

Good to know. these are remanufactured heads, so it'll be cheaper, not counting bent pushrods, to have them done at the local machine shop. Thanks.

 

[ratio411]

Pulling the studs and tapping the holes are no problem.
The part you need a machine shop for is milling down the bosses.
You can't just pull the studs and screw in new ones. Most folks use guide plates, so with aftermarket screw in studs and guide plates you must mill the bosses down however much needed to put the studs/plates back in at the same height as the original studs. I think the milling is also to correct any difference in casting height between bosses, which is needed to keep your plates/studs true with the head. So if you pull, tap, and install, I can see how geometry will be off.
Also, remember, if you use guide plates, you MUST use hardened pushrods. Stock style rods will grind themselves away against the plates, filling your oil with metal shavings.
Good luck
Dave

 

[brianj5600]

I have done it before. I used a stack of nuts and an impact wrench to remove them. I stayed with rail rockers, so milling pedestals and hardend push rods were not needed. I used comp roller tipped rockers and a fairly large solid cam. You must use the studs w/o any hex in the middle though. What cam are you running? Has it already pulled a stud?