Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Installing ARP head studs require milling

[OPoole]

Installing a set of ARP head studs require milling the rocker stands . 200 deep and 1. 100 across the top. If you have an older set this not a problem. .

 

[pro99]

Why the change?

 

[RSP]

They changed to get rid of the clearance problem with the valve covers

 

[pro99]

They changed to get rid of the clearance problem with the valve covers

What’s easier and faster milling the rocker arm hold down’s or going into the valve cover and doing some porting?

 

[OPoole]

The shorter stud will be a little stronger. . But this is no longer a back yard job you will need to find someone to mill your rocker stands. I will keep a set of rocker stands here milled and ready to go.

 

[pro99]

The shorter stud will be a little stronger. . But this is no longer a back yard job you will need to find someone to mill your rocker stands. I will keep a set of rocker stands here milled and ready to go.

I didn't think we had a concern with snapping studs maybe stripping out the holes in the block... . and If this is such a real concern then you need to go with 14mm? Don't get me wrong it looks good but how much more stronger?

 

[Signal73]

its not really about strength, thats just a side benifit. There shorter for valve cover clearance. When I did mine back in July of last year I had to get my towers milled.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163595&highlight=arp

 

[biggy238]

I've done two now. The same shop that did my head turned some spots in the rocker pedestal. . $35 for the 6

 

[Forrest Nearing]

such a retarded move on ARP's part IMO... before you could use a die grinder and hand clearance the valve covers... OR, put them on a bridgeport and just hit the inside of the cover really quick... zero precision required.



now you MUST make a trip to the machine shop... not a very well thought out change

 

[radcam]

Maybe ARP found that there are some engines that still have clearance issues even when the valve covers are modified, and that is why they are saying that you have to mill the pedastal now.



When I did my studs last year I had removed the ribs that were over the stud in the valve cover, as well as shortening up the stud I still had a clearance issue. I was told to eleminate the washers from underneath the nut. I didn't much care for that fix so I ended up milling the rocker pedastals which worked nicely. Granted I have acccess to a mill so it didn't cost me anything to do.

 

[pro99]

such a retarded move on ARP's part IMO... before you could use a die grinder and hand clearance the valve covers... OR, put them on a bridgeport and just hit the inside of the cover really quick... zero precision required.



now you MUST make a trip to the machine shop... not a very well thought out change

My thoughts as well!!!



Radcam did you run a tap into the block? I have installed my share of studs and never had that concern

 

[radcam]

Yeah I ran a bottoming tap in the bolt holes more than once. When I was doing it I was told that it is a problem on some '98 12v's, like the headbolt holes under the rocker pedastals weren't machined deep enough from the factory. . I don't know for sure I just know that no matter what I did I was not going to clear the valve cover as long as I had the washer and nut on the stud, and not running the washer was not an option for me.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

such a retarded move on ARP's part IMO... before you could use a die grinder and hand clearance the valve covers... OR, put them on a bridgeport and just hit the inside of the cover really quick... zero precision required.

Don't think it's retarded. . . on my '96 even after throrough thread cleaning, leaving washers out and grinding valve covers my studs were too long. Constantly splitting V/C gaskets and having lots of oil leaking. I'm thinking about pulling them, machining the stands and ordering the new, shorter studs.

Yeah I ran a bottoming tap in the bolt holes more than once. When I was doing it I was told that it is a problem on some '98 12v's, like the headbolt holes under the rocker pedastals weren't machined deep enough from the factory. .

Radcam the 12-valve engine for '98 were built with 24-valve blocks, with slightly different dimensions. . hence the reason for the shallower threads.

 

[DCreed]

can the studs be shortened at the bottom??

 

[WDixon27]

the haisley studs i got (they had arp stamped on the nuts and came in a arp box) had about a 1/4" non threaded tit on the bottom end that i cut off that helped and i still had to trim the stud tops that stuck above the nuts but i kept the washers

can the studs be shortened at the bottom??

 

[biggy238]

Sounds to me like a good number of us are doing our own machine work, rather than doing it the right way. I just didn't see it as that big a problem.



Take a truck down (for diy's) one evening, drop off the stands and have them milled, and put it back the next evening.



It just seems like most people are doing studs AFTER a blown headgasket and the head needs trued up anyway. Just take the pedestals with the head to the machine shop.

 

[JGheen]

Radcam the 12-valve engine for '98 were built with 24-valve blocks, with slightly different dimensions. . hence the reason for the shallower threads.

I don't know about that as I had no issues installing my ARPs in my '98 at all. I milled the valve covers just in case and bottom tapped each hole and I was able to use the washers and still have plenty on clearance. You should not have to machine the rocker pedistals, just run a bottoming tap in each hole until it stops and they should be fine. I can post up pics later.



Joe

 

[pro99]

I don't understand it at all I done a few 96's 97's and 98's and never had to cut the studs just milled the valve covers For someone to say this is a backyard fix then I have to say then thank you because it was the backyard that got this stuff going. For someone to say you have to mill the pads off for it to be correct is a moron!! You guy’s can keep finding ways to spend money and I’ll keep putting mine were it really needs to be spent, i. e. wife……. LOL

 

[OPoole]

I don't understand it at all I done a few 96's 97's and 98's and never had to cut the studs just milled the valve covers For someone to say this is a backyard fix then I have to say then thank you because it was the backyard that got this stuff going. For someone to say you have to mill the pads off for it to be correct is a moron!! You guy’s can keep finding ways to spend money and I’ll keep putting mine were it really needs to be spent, i. e. wife……. LOL

What i said was. . it was a backyard fix which was not a problem because i sell these things (ARP) to guys that do there own work. . backyard fix. Far as morons you do your next set of ARP (New style) head studs with out milling the rocker stands and when you pull the treads out of someone block that's who you will be.



My post and pictures was started to help and forewarn fellow TDR guys looking to install ARP studs in there 12v trucks on a saturday. If you have an old set of arp studs that didn't come with 6 new bolts for the rocker stands you will not have to mill them.

 

[pro99]

My post and pictures was started to help and forewarn fellow TDR guys looking to install ARP studs in there 12v trucks on a saturday. If you have an old set of arp studs that didn't come with 6 new bolts for the rocker stands you will not have to mill them.

I understand that but It was stupid of ARP to shorten the studs and now makes it necessary to have the rocker pads milled With the kit before we had a choice to mill the valve cover or cut n shave the stud to fit. Now it's something else to have done at the machine shop#@$%!