Head Stud Size....

[Bort62]

Is there any reason I cannot drill and tap my block for 1/2" or even 9/16" head studs?

Given that one of the weaknesses of our motors is the relatively low clamping force of the head studs in a boosted application, stepping up to signifigantly larger headstuds would allow higher clamping force to be used.

 

[Does10s]

1/2" works fine. 9/16" would be to much. There's probably not enough material to hold a stud that large. Not only that but getting the right socket around the nut at the rear of the head is already tight with the 1/2" studs.
Here's a pic of the 1/2" stud holes on my wife's motor.

Later,
Will

 

[Bort62]

Glad to know that great minds think alike.

Is that block O-ringed or are those sleeves?

 

[wallaka]

The first cylinder is sleeved (look closely) and all of them are O-ringed.

 

[Does10s]

The first cylinder is sleeved (look closely) and all of them are O-ringed.

Ya, what he said!

You really need to look closely to see the sleeve in #1.

Later,
Will

 

[Bort62]

Yes, very subtle.

So here is a stupid question regarding O-ringed blocks: Why are they coolant and oil passages not Oringed?

 

[wallaka]

Because there's no combustion going on in there. The most they'll ever see is 100 psi, the cylinders see a lot more.

 

[Does10s]

So here is a stupid question regarding O-ringed blocks: Why are they coolant and oil passages not Oringed?

Not a stupid question at all! In fact, since most people use a copper head gasket(s) when O-ringing, and copper head gaskets don't seal well at all for the water and oil passages, it would be nice to have SS o-rings around the passages. Might just be a machining issue? If all of the passages were circular then a tool would be easy to make.

I've heard of all kinds of methods to seal the passages up. All of which seem to be less than 100% effective.
I haven't tried them all yet, so maybe I'll find the perfect solution sometime. So far everytime I've pulled the head, I've tried a different method.
Still leaking a little bit, but so far the latest method is working the best.
Disk Brake Quiet, and GM Coolant Tabs.
Later,
Will

 

[Bort62]

I dont see why machining an O-ring groove around the passages would be a problem at all.

And Oring's don't have to be circular...

 

[XFlow_Fairlane]

yeah but they are ALOT easier to machine if they are. granted a nice CNC mill could do a great job at it.