Are these rotators?

[bbrocksr]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

Oh great a civil war.... Let's just say there is a thread or two that isn't exactly perfect in this block. Seems a stud cranked all the way down is less apt to fail in the final torque down procedure than a bolt. Just a gut feeling on my part. In the end, engines built by J Seery and Ol Ron are both great runners, so if I use common sense I should be ok....... On another note this engine must have the good hollow johnson lifters in it. I had to do a LOT of wrenching on them and the tension on the bolts was very consistent and very snug. They gave me a lot of confidence that my settings were going to last. No loose ones in the batch.

I like studs for the same reason ,less wear and tear on the block threads.
On studs the wear is on the steel threads of the stud and nut instead of the softer cast iron threads of the block.
Bill

[Ol' Ron]

I quit using studs 50 years ago in street applications and some racing. I torque to 45/50 lbs for All applications. However I know that I must have a min of 7 threads engagement or a diameter and a half for the bolt stud. I'm also mindful of the blind holes. Just remember you must have a reason for what you do

[37 Coupe]

Originally Posted by saltracer

are the valve springs different for intake and exhaust? Looks a little like Isky springs on the exhaust with the rotators. I believe they are shorter and would work with the rotators.

This is something I never thought of before. I built an 8RT engine 30 some years ago,a '53 F-100 engine. I used an ISKY cam kit,they provided the springs. The '53 8RT engine used the rotators but I don't recall that ISKY ask if you are using rotators or not with springs they supply. My question is there two different spring sizes,rotator,non rotator? I don't think all 49-53 8BA engines were all rotator,correct? All I remember is it ran fine and just heard the other day it still is.

[GB SISSON]

I have had a thought about studs VS bolts. Just one of those 'can't fall back to sleep after getting up to pee in the early morning hours' kind of thought. With bolts we are cranking down a coarse thread fastener with our torque wrench. The inclined plane (thread) is steeper than the fine thread on the nut which we'd be cranking down with studs. Does the torque end up being equal? Is it not easier for the wrench to tension the fine thread nut, as though it was 'geared down'. And Ron can you tell me why you stopped using studs so long ago? Which ever way I go I will be using good used ford fasteners.

[BillM]

Does the torque end up being equal?

The torque will be different between bolts and studs/nuts to achieve the same clamping force.

[BillM]

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This article by the late Rumbleseat goes into detail on the subject of studs vs bolts:
http://www.flatheadv8.org/rumblest/engine.pdf

[rotorwrench]

37 Coupe
Rotator type valve assemblies came in mid 1951 production sometime which pretty much coincided with deletion of hardened inserts in the valve seats.

[Ol' Ron]

During my racing days the engine had to come aoart quite often, every time was a project pulling the heads and ruining the gasket. Those 3036 gaskets cost a bunch (14 bucks a set). I figgered the 8BA's used bolts, so why not. Then there was the torque, some guys said 60/65 lbs, However, Bill Barth said 40/50 was better because it didn;t distort the block. So ever since the 60's I've been using bolts and torquing to 45 ft lbs. So Far so good. and that's the reason Plus I never have to buy new gaskets.

[Mart]

GB, I agree with this, it makes sense to me as a common sense engineer, coarse thread, steeper slope, less clamping force. I put forward this notion in a post some time ago and was told I was wrong. I still believe I was right, and I believe you are right too. I believe that to achieve the same clamping force a coarser thread should be tightened to a higher torque than a fine thread. I wouldn't refute anything written above, as there seems to be a range of torques that will work well for a flathead. I agree that it is not beneficial to murder them up too tight.

Further to Ron's note above, I too have successfully reused head gaskets a few times.

Mart.

[GB SISSON]

Thank you all. I continue to learn. I have always considered myself as an 'armchair engineer', but maybe Mart's term is better. Armchair engineer might imply one who only reads and thinks about stuff, but never does any of it. I'm the cheapskate who makes wooden running boards for my panel truck, teflon buttons for wrist pins with a plywood jig for my router and hones kingpins with a sandpaper wrapped dowel in a drill. Now I find out I have been wasting good money all this time on new headgaskets! I'm also thinking I should inspect the bottom end of this engine before I button up the top end. I see the pot metal fitting on the pan for the dipstick is loose and I'm thinking the same guy that used mixed up valves must have had the pan off as well, as the flywheel is drilled for am 11" clutch, and it has a 'car type' one piece pan and no clutch. So as soon as my engine stand is vacant I'll do a once over on the lower end, just because I'm old now and don't know everything....

[Bored&Stroked]

Lots of guys use the later bolts - but I use studs on almost all my engines (as they tend to be on the very high-end of performance). My main reasons are this:

a) You're torquing on the fine-threaded end of a high-quality stud . . . which enables me to use a lot of stud moly lube (ARP) and I like the way the torque operation "feels" as I tighten the nuts. Almost anybody who builds modern race engines (of all types) will use studs - on the heads, mains, etc -- due to having more accurate and consistent torque readings than you have with bolts going into coarse cast iron threads.

If you think about it - when you buy a high quality stud, washer, nut package - you'll be having a consistent thread and fastener setup on every location . . . versus trying to achieve the same torque on cast iron block threads with varying amounts of wear, rust, prior usage, etc..

b) I hate leaky bolts/studs: So I initially put the studs in with ARP teflon stud sealer - and let them sit up for a bit. This has prevented water seepage on my stock as well as race engines.

c) I do use ARP Studs (yes, they cost a lot) - and they are worth it to me. Also, they are very high quality and have a nice allen hex socket cut into the tops of them. This has been VERY useful in that I can easily remove one or more studs (with the head on) - in case I ever have a leakage issue - OR to make it easier to pull the heads.

Also, I've noticed that they definitely do not stretch as much as the original or aftermarket "replacement studs" - so I usually see very little torque difference after I run the engine and once I re-torque it, the torque stays. With stock studs - I usually have to retorque multiple times.

d) I use aluminum heads on most of my builds - and I think they are more sensitive to accurate torque clamping loads (less warpage) . . . so the above method is the best I can do. I would say this to be even more important on a block that has NOT been decked.

e) Bolts: I do use them on 49-53 engines that are stock to maybe a 3/4 type build. I use the same ARP teflon sealer on the coarse threads and the moly lube on the washers and bolt-head side. Also, I make sure that I torque them down as soon as I have the heads on. Using bolts does help if the person needs to save a few dollars and overall cost is an issue. If the engine is a higher performance build, I insist on studs.

That is my story and I'm sticking to it! LOL

B&S

[Ol' Ron]

I don't think you can make a silk purse, from a sows ear, no mater how much money you spend. But if it make you feel better, why not. However, I do believe the fine thread does exert more force on the head, I just don't think it's necessary and only brings the cost up on an expensive build for no reason. All out Bivelle maybe, max boost maybe , 100% nitro deffinately. Daily driver, not so much.

[GB SISSON]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

I don't think you can make a silk purse, from a sows ear, no mater how much money you spend. But if it make you feel better, why not. However, I do believe the fine thread does exert more force on the head, I just don't think it's necessary and only brings the cost up on an expensive build for no reason. All out Bivelle maybe, max boost maybe , 100% nitro deffinately. Daily driver, not so much.

Because I am a middle child of three kids, I have always been a peacemaker so I'm gonna use some of each.

[Bored&Stroked]

Last note - if you are in the market for studs (not ARP ones), go to Roy Nacewicz for ones that are correctly formed and of high quality. BUT - they are not cheap either . . . $135 for a 24 stud engine (and I believe you still need the nuts and hardened washers).

http://www.fordscript.com/

[GB SISSON]

I had a day today where it seemed the best project was to finally flip this engine over, pull the pan and see what we have in there. Nice and clean like the valve area, and lubriplate squeezed out of the bearings, still fresh looking. I noticed no safety wire or hole for it in the oil pump mounting bolt. Next thing I noticed is that it had obviously been balanced and the rods and caps had been re-stamped on the freshly ground off surfaces. Then I noticed that it had 8ba rods. Ok, now I had to find out if they used the proper 8ba crank with the double holes on each throw. Yes indeed and all the nuts and bolts met proper torque as well. I do have a question regarding the flywheel. The one that's on it is very rusty on the mating surface and I notice the ring gear is welded in a few spots, which sort of bugs me. I have a few good looking extra flywheels in my stash and wonder what I should be looking for. 8ba flywheel or 59ab style? I know there can be starter matchup issues. What ever is on it now seems to work well with the starter on it. I think one type is drilled all the way through. This is drilled for an 11" clutch, so I'll have more choices if I should decide to switch it out. Thanks in advance.

[Brian]

Use a 59A flywheel, NOT 8BA

[flatheadmurre]

When it comes to torque/clamping force the easy way of looking at it would be to compare fine/coarse with a small/large angle wedge which should make us think finethread would give a lot more clamping force at the same torque.
But torque is more dictated by friction then one could think and with a finethread there is more threads in contact then with a coarse.
On top of that 50% of the torque is eaten by the friction between bolthead and the head.
In general 90% of the aplied torque is going into friction and only 10% is turned into tension...

[Ol' Ron]

Now that we have all that settled. I'd like to add a few more suggestion. Re-torque the head bolts after 3 heat cycles. Also, I like to keep the installed valve spring pressure on a street engine, in the 50/60 lb range, I also like the use of rotators in a street engine on cams up to 350 grosse lift. All most stock springs need is a .060" spacer. I also use RTV on the intake guides to seal them. Probably should write another book.

[corvette8n]

Hey Ron I'll buy your next book, I have your first one, lots of great info in this thread.

[Shu47]

Ron, please do write another book. You probably have enough info in your head to write several books.