The Ford Barn

jrvariel48 · 09-20-2014, 05:55 AM

I'm thinking of installing aluminium heads on my coupe this winter.
Do the head studs need to be changed or will the stock studs be long enough?
They are Edelbrock heads with an "S" stamped on them. I was told here on the Barn that the S meant they would fit with stock studs?
Any thoughts??
Thank you,
Joe

BrianCT · 09-20-2014, 07:37 AM

That depends on the brand of head. Some will require longer studs in some positions.

Pete · 09-20-2014, 01:30 PM

Edelbrock "S" heads were made to use with stock length studs.

supereal · 09-20-2014, 04:06 PM

Change the head studs. Coat the block ends with a good non hardening sealer, such as Permatex, and screw the studs into the block only until the threads are full in the surface. Old head studs (and bolts) have been thru thousands of heat/cool cycles that anneal them, allowing them to stretch. That affects the torque necessary to seal the head gaskets. If any of the old studs are eroded, you may end up with a "wet" stud if the stud extends into the water jacket. Remember that there are three lengths of studs, so be sure to match the new with the old as you go.

Joe AZ · 09-20-2014, 04:10 PM

I've got Navarro heads from H&H.......they use the stock studs.

scooder · 09-20-2014, 07:07 PM

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No need to change the studs out. In good fetal the stock Ford ones are still after all the heat cycles far better than most of the reproduction crap out there. Better material and harder than grade 8 stuff. They only gota hold 40lbsft.
Edelbrock S heads were for stock length studs.
Martin.

Fe26 · 09-20-2014, 08:14 PM

[Quote] Old head studs (and bolts) have been thru thousands of heat/cool cycles that anneal them

Sorry. Even with all the 'overheating' we hear of with Flathead V8's there is no way an engine could reach the temperature required to anneal carbon steel.

scooder is right on the money

jrvariel48 · 09-21-2014, 07:14 AM

Thank you everyone! I'm not going to change the studs... to many horror stories of them breaking, etc. None of the studs leak & I know the nuts are all free as I recently torqued them.
Thanks again Joe

Old Ford Addict · 09-21-2014, 03:14 PM

Weiand S
Edelbrock S
Edmunds
And probably a bunch more old / original heads were designed to drop right on over stock studs
I don’t think that can be said for any of the new heads

09-20-2014, 05:55 AM	#1
jrvariel48 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,425	Head studs I'm thinking of installing aluminium heads on my coupe this winter. Do the head studs need to be changed or will the stock studs be long enough? They are Edelbrock heads with an "S" stamped on them. I was told here on the Barn that the S meant they would fit with stock studs? Any thoughts?? Thank you, Joe

09-20-2014, 07:37 AM	#2
BrianCT Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Windham, CT Posts: 702	Re: Head studs That depends on the brand of head. Some will require longer studs in some positions. __________________ [FONT=Comic Sans MS]

09-20-2014, 01:30 PM	#3
Pete Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wa. Posts: 5,408	Re: Head studs Edelbrock "S" heads were made to use with stock length studs.

09-20-2014, 04:06 PM	#4
supereal Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,634	Re: Head studs Change the head studs. Coat the block ends with a good non hardening sealer, such as Permatex, and screw the studs into the block only until the threads are full in the surface. Old head studs (and bolts) have been thru thousands of heat/cool cycles that anneal them, allowing them to stretch. That affects the torque necessary to seal the head gaskets. If any of the old studs are eroded, you may end up with a "wet" stud if the stud extends into the water jacket. Remember that there are three lengths of studs, so be sure to match the new with the old as you go.

09-20-2014, 04:10 PM	#5
Joe AZ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Prescott, WI Posts: 336	Re: Head studs I've got Navarro heads from H&H.......they use the stock studs.

09-20-2014, 07:07 PM	#6
scooder Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,593	Re: Head studs Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) No need to change the studs out. In good fetal the stock Ford ones are still after all the heat cycles far better than most of the reproduction crap out there. Better material and harder than grade 8 stuff. They only gota hold 40lbsft. Edelbrock S heads were for stock length studs. Martin.

09-20-2014, 08:14 PM	#7
Fe26 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 949	Re: Head studs [Quote] Old head studs (and bolts) have been thru thousands of heat/cool cycles that anneal them Sorry. Even with all the 'overheating' we hear of with Flathead V8's there is no way an engine could reach the temperature required to anneal carbon steel. scooder is right on the money

09-21-2014, 07:14 AM	#8
jrvariel48 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,425	Re: Head studs Thank you everyone! I'm not going to change the studs... to many horror stories of them breaking, etc. None of the studs leak & I know the nuts are all free as I recently torqued them. Thanks again Joe

09-21-2014, 03:14 PM	#9
Old Ford Addict Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Nor-Cal Posts: 140	Re: Head studs Weiand S Edelbrock S Edmunds And probably a bunch more old / original heads were designed to drop right on over stock studs I don’t think that can be said for any of the new heads