removing head studs
 

Any one in the process of removing the head studs ,I thought you would like to know my most successful method used today.
I have 48 stuck ones to remove, my usual way was to try the stud removal tool until the studs broke off,then,as you know its a real pain.
I had tried tig welding a flat washer onto the busted flush stud,then welding a nut onto the washer,and use the rattle gun to get them out,at best a 50% success rate,and very easy to damage the thread or block face.
Heating the stud and try the stud extracted when cool,25% success rate.
Today, 24 from 24, one I had to do twice but all came out.
This is my method, cut the studs off with a cutoff wheel and 4in angle grinder about 5/8 above the block face,get all the old head nuts,drill them out to 7/16,and face off one side of the nut so as to have a nice clean surface to weld to, slip the nuts over the cut off studs and knock down to the block face,THEN tig weld the cut off stud to the nut.
do all 24 on that side,squirt some oil under the nut and onto the stud in the block,
when they are cooled,get the rattle gun onto them ,don’t use the highest setting unless they won’t move,but all mine did,.
One Pain of a job done.
I can rest easy tonight,knowing the other 24 will be as easy.
Lawrie

Re: removing head studs
 

Good to know you got them all.

Re: removing head studs
 

Good idea Lawrie. Did you try any other methods to remove these studs first, or go directly to your new procedure?

Re: removing head studs
 

Thanks for the tip Lawrie .

Re: removing head studs
 

Lots of work for sure. I find all are removed when i simply heat the studs cherry red with the oxygen and acetylene torch then I walk away from that job. When I return to the project the following day I always get all 48 out doing it this way I must be lucky or the blocks I get to work on are not that bad.
Ronnieroadster

Re: removing head studs
 

I do a similar method as Ronnie, however, now I squirt them with 50/50 mix. Next day most come out with no trouble. And they never go back in.

Re: removing head studs
 

I tried all the usual methods first ,including heating the studs,But only tried 3,AND did not wait till the next day,just untill they cooled,
But my new method is a lot cheaper, as I dont have to use the oxy,its not cheap here,(try $750 /yr just for the bottle rent),so a little argon and power is way cheaper.
Lawrie

Re: removing head studs
 

At least here in the States, 1/2 inch nuts sold by the pound at lumber yards are very cheap. They will slip over the 7/16 stud and you are all ready to weld. No drilling out or cleaning up the old nuts. Well worth the couple of bucks investment. And yes , this is the only 100% method I have found.
My opinion

Re: removing head studs
 

So tempted to try this. I'm on round two of removal. I'm starting to think I'm not getting them cherry red enough. I'm heating the base and middle, but not the entire stud.

I have 10 left to go on this block.

Re: removing head studs
 

I was also worried about heating the block while heating the stud when the rest of the block is cold.
Lawrie

Re: removing head studs
 

Lawrie when I stripped that 35 motor you just finished for me I had half come out with the stud remover tool and the other half I did the same as you but I didn’t cut the stud off I just slipped a bigger nut over the stud and welded it up close to the block. Little squirt of oil and no problems. I think I left it overnight but definitely didn’t have any trouble

Re: removing head studs
 

Learn from our experience theres no harm to the block heating the stud or studs cherry red on a block thats room temperature.
Ronnieroadster

Re: removing head studs
 

well ,did the other side yesterday ,all 24 came out no drama using the weld on nut method,I,m VERY happy and slept well last night.
Lawrie

Re: removing head studs
 

Nice.. I need to find someone close to me with a tig welder to get the 5 out I busted off :rolleyes:

Re: removing head studs
 

Haha. It's funny when a tough task like removing those pesky head studs is on your mind, you really don't sleep well.

Re: removing head studs
 

Snap-on CG500 and some torq control usually takes all but 2-4 aside out to be reused...rest is getting the torch treatment and scrapped.
I like the original studs...cutting 48 off would make me cry...

Re: removing head studs
 

Interesting: My buddy is a Snap-On dealer and an old Ford guy. He recommended not getting the Snap On but the Mayhew. Mayhew still broke some off.

Not saying it doesn't work for you, but it just caught my eye. I need to talk to my buddy!

Re: removing head studs
 

That snapon is not hurting the studs...grabbing threads by friction.
All others i have make marks...and marks is the start of a crack.

Re: removing head studs
 

Yes, I agree. Do you use a breaker bar or an impact of some sort when using this tool?

Also, do you prep the studs by heating or anything before using this tool?

Re: removing head studs
 

Just your choice of penetrating oil and and a breakerbar first...anything i doubt will come out i heat with the torch.
As soon as the torch touched a stud they are scrap...