head stud problem

[young_withboost]

I just got my block machined and i was putting the head studs in and a couple wont go in all the way, a performance shop has my car right now but they are charging me to death, they said there is a solid chunk of rust in a couple of the holes for the studs but the studs still go more than 3/4 of the way into the block and they wont go anyfurther so i figured thats just as good as the bottom, i put the head on anyway and tourqed it down but i didnt have the dowel pins, all the studs torqued to spec and im leaking water out of the number 4 cylinder corner, they say its because of the studs not being all the way down but the head is torqued to spec so that shouldnt matter right, or is it just that im missing the dowel pins thats causing it to leak, thanks for the help

 

[romeen]

Did you try running a tap through the threads to clean them up before installing the studs?

 

[bostonhatcher]

Did you try running a tap through the threads to clean them up before installing the studs?

Do that then run air duster or compressed air into the bolt hole to get the debris out.

 

[young_withboost]

well just by looking i couldnt tell anything was in there, and if i ran a tap wouldnt it mess up the threads i already have or make it bigger so the arp's wont fit?

 

[luvmygst]

Run the same size tap through the hole just to clean the threads up. You are going to have to pull the head again anyway and put some alignment pins for the head in.(A.K.A. Dowel pins)

 

[Cs4g63]

Its always best to run a tap to clean out the threads when rebuilding or reinstalling vital engine parts. Debris can cause a false torque reading along with not allowing bolts to be fully seated. It might not always be needed but it is definately a good habit to get into.

 

[boostenon114]

I always at least tap or thread chasers down then blow them out with air. If the tap cant do it for you try a long pick or pice of small rod to knock the rust lose.

 

[bling5tatus]

is it just that im missing the dowel pins thats causing it to leak, thanks for the help

Nobody answered this question. I have dowel pins in my block, but I was still interested to see what someone says about this.

 

[ArticNemesis]

Not for anything, but if you paid the shop to do the work, then take the block back to them and tell them to do it right. Get the "rust chunks" as they called them out of there, or take it to a shop that will do it right.

Sitting on top of whatever it is, is not as good as the bottom of the block. As for missing the dowels, they are there to make sure everythings on straight and the doesn't misalign with the standard TTYbolts. With studs it won't be as big of an issue, but not having the studs seated properly isn't going to give you accurate torque readings after it's all said and done

 

[TwoLiterLaser]

If your studs are not going in all the way then I am surprised you are only leaking out of the number four hole. You need those alignment pins so the head sits on the engine squarely without any deviation. I would be willing to bet that you have fluid down in the head stud holes that you hydro locked the studs against. When putting a head back on a car, the stud holes ALWAYS have to be blown out or you are going to end up torqueing the studs against fluid resulting in your head not being correctly held in place.