Installing Screw In Rocker Studs & Guides

[rage'nrat638]

WELL MOST PEOPLE WOULD THINK...this is a machine shop only thing to do.
i proved it to my self that i could do it...

first there a few things you need to do this job.
small drill press
stud puller and guide 21.00
stud boss cutter 55.00
cutting oil 6.00
7/16 x 14 taps 8.00
screw in studs 25.00
guide plates 20.00
about 5 hours is what it took me the first time..now i know all the tricks about half that..i have a set of 882 heads i will be doing this too as well.
this is the place you can get these tools, it's where i bought mine
powerhouse products
http://www.compperformancegroupstore...?Store_Code=PH

[rage'nrat638]

first i started by finding my box of old rockers and nuts.
you will use the old nuts to remove the studs from the heads with the handy dandy studs puller..
i set the puller over two studs and used my air impact and harded impact socket.
started tightening about half the threads and backed the nut off and installed 6 washers and retightened so the nut did not bottom out (run out) of threads and removed all 16 studs.
after you pull one of the two place the pin supplyed with the puller to keep the block from spinning

[rage'nrat638]

next was the fun part getting the head on the drill press so the bosses were level and start the milling process did this for all 16 bosses.

i used a 7/16 bolt with one two nuts on the bottom side of the head to level things out..
used my cutting oil to keep things wet while i did this

we will be cutting about 3/8" off each stud boss this is the area that the guide plate thickness and stud nut thinkness equals.

[rage'nrat638]

next we use the puller and the guide to start the tap (one hole is threaded)
ITS A GREAT LITTLE TOOL..

i bought new taps used lots of oil and took my time every thing went great. like i had done it a hundred times.
use the guide to start the tap about half way... then back the tap out and remove the block to finish the hole..
flip the block around to the next untapped hole. install the pin into the newley threaded hole to hold the guide and repeat the tapping process.
do this for all 16 holes

[rage'nrat638]

after you tap all the holes out with the 7/16 x 14 tap and clean things up a bit.
now you can sport the new guides and studs..
just think you just saved 175.00 machine shop charge

[rage'nrat638]

the next thing i will be doing is elongating the push rod holes for a higher lift cam ..ness on vortec heads.
later i will use blue lock tight on the stud threads and heads and tighten them down with my torque wrench..

stay tuned.. I LOVE THIS STUFF..

[pgf545]

Rage, Great article. I think Goodson also has some of those tools, also someone makes a tool to enlongate the pushrod holes. What RPM did you use to cut the bosses down? It looks like you didn't get a whole lot of chatter which is surprising with a drill press. The drill press we have woulda been all over the place.

Bernie

[rage'nrat638]

650 was the lowest rpm speed my small delta drill press run's... recommended rpm is 750 with the cutter..
my next speed is 1050 rpm.. i figured that would be to fast. thanks so much. i am excited...the cutter seems to have a lot more life left..
i have more heads to cut down. next is a set of 882's
the trick is having the bosses level & a steady work surface. the 7/16 bolts in the water jacket holes.underneath fit perfect and leveling was a snap. set the depth on the press and went at it.
any more questions just ask.. your pal mark

[pgf545]

I was just wondering because I work in a maching shop doing aerospace stuff and it is hard to get good finishes from machines that are not rigid. That is why I was impressed with your outcome. I bet if you don't damage that tool it should last for a long time. If you have a bunch of heads to do you might build a fixture to hold the head.

Bernie

[rage'nrat638]

Originally Posted by pgf545

I was just wondering because I work in a maching shop doing aerospace stuff and it is hard to get good finishes from machines that are not rigid. That is why I was impressed with your outcome. I bet if you don't damage that tool it should last for a long time. If you have a bunch of heads to do you might build a fixture to hold the head.

Bernie

you bet.. i am hoping to get a few more set's done out of that cutter..but for only 50.00.. it paid for itself this first time around..

thanks for your interest.. your pal mark

[Russell]

Thats really cool! Well done!

My only concern would be making sure that you machined the right amount off, and making sure it was totally level first

[rage'nrat638]

Originally Posted by Russell

Thats really cool! Well done!

My only concern would be making sure that you machined the right amount off, and making sure it was totally level first

yes i agree..don't think i was not nervous doing this job.. but i have a drill press, and could set the depth of the cut.. and making sure the head was level was the first thing i worked on for about a hour to get the set-up right so i could duplicate this operation 16 times.
this is a job not everybody could do in there garage with no tool's.

thanks russell for the kind words..

[bigjimzlll]

Hey Mark,
Looks good. I think the tuffest thing would be getting the studs to be perpendicular to the boss and be the same on all studs.