ChuckN
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2022
- Posts
- 1,387
- Reaction score
- 4,319
- Location
- Bellinham, WA
- First Name
- Chad
- Truck Year
- 1981
- Truck Model
- C10
- Engine Size
- 350
I posted on “what have you done lately “ thread, but thought I’d start a legit thread here.
When replacing the valve seals (mid 70s 350, 461 camel hump heads, roller tip rockers, unknown cam with lumpy idle) I noticed some studs with more thread showing above the nuts. I took two rockers off and measured the difference between one with the most thread showing and the least. Honestly I thought I was checking for cam lobes that were going south. What I found was one sample stud measuring just over 1 7/8 showing, and the other just under 1 7/8 showing- that’s the difference.
There’s three on the passenger side that are like this, drivers side a couple as well in varying degrees. I didn’t notice them before, but it’s possible that I wasn’t observant. When I parked the truck to work on it, it wasn’t make any noise- and the visual stud difference is quite noticeable. After lashing the valves it seems likely that they were like that all along. It also is a possibility that one or more studs were replaced at one point and they’re not the same exact length. But more likely that they would’ve converted to screw in studs at that time.
My dad told me years ago that he had one pull out on his 327 and he just hammered it back in and it never made a peep again. @Ajax19 recommended a thread repair kit that looks good but would require yanking all the studs and retapping them, and also mentioned welding but I don’t know how to weld. That seems a lot of hassle for a set of heads that still wouldn’t be machined for guide plates.
I don’t think there’s much to be done except make the call myself. But sometimes you guys surprise me and have something that I never thought of- I suppose I could mark the rocker nuts with paint and readjust to see if they’re moving up any more.
I don’t want to sell my Halibrands, but if it means I have a set of good heads that won’t do this again, I’m all for it. Thanks in advance for any input.
When replacing the valve seals (mid 70s 350, 461 camel hump heads, roller tip rockers, unknown cam with lumpy idle) I noticed some studs with more thread showing above the nuts. I took two rockers off and measured the difference between one with the most thread showing and the least. Honestly I thought I was checking for cam lobes that were going south. What I found was one sample stud measuring just over 1 7/8 showing, and the other just under 1 7/8 showing- that’s the difference.
There’s three on the passenger side that are like this, drivers side a couple as well in varying degrees. I didn’t notice them before, but it’s possible that I wasn’t observant. When I parked the truck to work on it, it wasn’t make any noise- and the visual stud difference is quite noticeable. After lashing the valves it seems likely that they were like that all along. It also is a possibility that one or more studs were replaced at one point and they’re not the same exact length. But more likely that they would’ve converted to screw in studs at that time.
My dad told me years ago that he had one pull out on his 327 and he just hammered it back in and it never made a peep again. @Ajax19 recommended a thread repair kit that looks good but would require yanking all the studs and retapping them, and also mentioned welding but I don’t know how to weld. That seems a lot of hassle for a set of heads that still wouldn’t be machined for guide plates.
I don’t think there’s much to be done except make the call myself. But sometimes you guys surprise me and have something that I never thought of- I suppose I could mark the rocker nuts with paint and readjust to see if they’re moving up any more.
I don’t want to sell my Halibrands, but if it means I have a set of good heads that won’t do this again, I’m all for it. Thanks in advance for any input.