Vortec Head Rocker Stud Change - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

gator2511 · 04-14-2007, 12:38 PM

Well, I just don't feel comfortable with PRESS in rocker studs. Before I put these heads on my truck I wanted to install screw in studs. I'm dead ready and waiting on the Fed Ex truck!

The tools got here and I went right to work. This shot shows the stud puller ready to do its work. On the first few studs the puller was tight going over both studs so I used a small rubber hammer to tap it down firmly. It seemed to get easier after that but I still had to use the hammer to seat the puller on the bosses.

This is the first stud pulled and the puller being used to tap the first hole. I had a problem with only one hole. It wasn't drilled deep enough to accept the new stud and I had to finish drilling it. After you pull the stud, look down into the hole with a light and check the hole for proper depth.

This shows the hole tapped with the little puller at the bottom of the photo. It amazed me how easy it was to pull the studs with this tool and an electric impact hammer. All you have to remember is to stop pulling once or twice and add more washers on the top of the tool.

All the holes are tapped and the new studs are ready to put in. Before I did that I washed all the metal from the tapping process with mineral spirits and blew them down real good with compressed air.

The new studs are in, torqued to 50 ft. lbs and coated with threadlock.

Here are the old pressed in studs.

End view of one of the completed heads. All finished, all done and well, uhmm READY TO ROCK. (Sorry I just couldn't help it)

Of course I wouldn't have even thought about doing this myself without the help from rage'rat638. Many thanks for all the information from all of you.

*rage'nrat638* · 04-14-2007, 01:31 PM

see easyest thing to ever did right

just think what the machine shop would have charged

plus you got the tools to do it again and again..

great job brother

*rage'nrat638* · 04-14-2007, 01:33 PM

after everbody see's this we could move this to the FAQ

gator2511 · 04-14-2007, 02:03 PM

With the right tools its very simple. The thing is, we get in the mind set that all this engine work is "machine" work and some of it really isn't all that difficult to do. That said, I'm not gonna take a rattail file to hone my cylinders.

Thanks again.

RACINJASON22 · 04-14-2007, 02:41 PM

Very nice gator2511, IMO it just feels better to DIY too. I agree after a bit send it on to the FAQ's, GR8 TECH so some others that are sceptical about this will give it a try.

Rick Mills · 04-14-2007, 08:34 PM

Great thread! Learned something new today.

orange72blazer · 04-24-2007, 09:55 AM

What brand studs did you use, do you have a part # .

Pyrotechnic · 04-24-2007, 12:48 PM

Great job. Vortec heads become not such a great value when you have to take them to the machine shop.

gator2511 · 04-24-2007, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orange72blazer

What brand studs did you use, do you have a part # .

I used Mr. Gasket part #720-1076. $29.99 at Jegs.

*rage'nrat638* · 04-25-2007, 09:07 AM

glad you got your pictures working again.
the other day all i saw was x's

great job again

04-14-2007, 12:38 PM	#1
gator2511 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: tampa florida Posts: 776	Vortec Head Rocker Stud Change Well, I just don't feel comfortable with PRESS in rocker studs. Before I put these heads on my truck I wanted to install screw in studs. I'm dead ready and waiting on the Fed Ex truck! The tools got here and I went right to work. This shot shows the stud puller ready to do its work. On the first few studs the puller was tight going over both studs so I used a small rubber hammer to tap it down firmly. It seemed to get easier after that but I still had to use the hammer to seat the puller on the bosses. This is the first stud pulled and the puller being used to tap the first hole. I had a problem with only one hole. It wasn't drilled deep enough to accept the new stud and I had to finish drilling it. After you pull the stud, look down into the hole with a light and check the hole for proper depth. This shows the hole tapped with the little puller at the bottom of the photo. It amazed me how easy it was to pull the studs with this tool and an electric impact hammer. All you have to remember is to stop pulling once or twice and add more washers on the top of the tool. All the holes are tapped and the new studs are ready to put in. Before I did that I washed all the metal from the tapping process with mineral spirits and blew them down real good with compressed air. The new studs are in, torqued to 50 ft. lbs and coated with threadlock. Here are the old pressed in studs. End view of one of the completed heads. All finished, all done and well, uhmm READY TO ROCK. (Sorry I just couldn't help it) Of course I wouldn't have even thought about doing this myself without the help from rage'rat638. Many thanks for all the information from all of you. Last edited by rage'nrat638; 04-14-2007 at 01:35 PM.

04-14-2007, 01:31 PM	#2
rage'nrat638 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: THE FALL GUY CHICAGO IL Posts: 5,883	Re: Vortec Head Rocker Stud Change see easyest thing to ever did right just think what the machine shop would have charged plus you got the tools to do it again and again.. great job brother

04-14-2007, 01:33 PM	#3
rage'nrat638 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: THE FALL GUY CHICAGO IL Posts: 5,883	Re: Vortec Head Rocker Stud Change after everbody see's this we could move this to the FAQ

04-14-2007, 02:03 PM	#4
gator2511 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: tampa florida Posts: 776	Re: Vortec Head Rocker Stud Change With the right tools its very simple. The thing is, we get in the mind set that all this engine work is "machine" work and some of it really isn't all that difficult to do. That said, I'm not gonna take a rattail file to hone my cylinders. Thanks again.

04-14-2007, 02:41 PM	#5
RACINJASON22 GEARHEAD Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: CENTRAL,PA Posts: 2,284	Re: Vortec Head Rocker Stud Change Very nice gator2511, IMO it just feels better to DIY too. I agree after a bit send it on to the FAQ's, GR8 TECH so some others that are sceptical about this will give it a try. __________________ 72 SWB 2WD MY PROJECT 72 LWB 4X4 FUTURE PROJECT SUBSCRIBE HEREBOARD VENDORS HERE NORWOOD MEET SURVIVOR!

04-14-2007, 08:34 PM	#6
Rick Mills Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 351	Re: Vortec Head Rocker Stud Change Great thread! Learned something new today. __________________ The Fastor Pastor '68 swb, 447 BBC/ 6-71 Weiand, Dual 950 Bigs Carbs/ 2 1/2" Header tubes - 4" collectors/ M-21 4speed: '70 swb; TH-400 - bagged & shaved. Looking for new engine or parts. Wife - Original {A Real Classic!}

04-24-2007, 09:55 AM	#7
orange72blazer Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: West Michigan Posts: 447	Re: Vortec Head Rocker Stud Change What brand studs did you use, do you have a part # . __________________ 1972 Chevy Blazer 1997 GMC Sierra 2009 Chevy Tahoe

04-24-2007, 12:48 PM	#8
Pyrotechnic Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 3,930	Re: Vortec Head Rocker Stud Change Great job. Vortec heads become not such a great value when you have to take them to the machine shop.

04-25-2007, 09:07 AM	#10
rage'nrat638 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: THE FALL GUY CHICAGO IL Posts: 5,883	Re: Vortec Head Rocker Stud Change glad you got your pictures working again. the other day all i saw was x's great job again



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