If the gasket blows shortly after the head was re-installed using old studs,
there's a good likelihood the studs are not holding their torque properly.
(The good mechanic would, of course, have had the head and block surfaces
checked for flatness and progressively re-torqued the head nuts in the
proper sequence, so those causes of a blown gasket should be able to be
ruled out.)
As for your second question, perhaps Jim Sr. has an answer. I certainly
don't. As I have said several times, I replace head studs as a matter of
course.
Isn't this horse just about beaten to death now?
Lawrie
-----Original Message-----
From: Charley & Peggy Robinson <ccrobins@ktc.com>
To: Lawrie Alexander <Lawrie@britcars.com>
Cc: James H. Nazarian, Ph.D. <microdoc@apk.net>; mgs@autox.team.net
<mgs@autox.team.net>
Date: Thursday, January 18, 2001 8:00 PM
Subject: Re: Head Studs (long reply)
>Lawrie,
>
> Now, I have questions.
>
> How can you tell if a blown head gasket is the result of the head
>being reinstalled using "weak" studs?
>
> Supposing you find a stretched stud in an engine that came in with a
>blown head gasket; how can you tell if it was stretched before the last
>installation or during the last installation?
>
> Cheers,
>
> CR
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Lawrie Alexander wrote:
>>
>> Having to rebuild an engine more than once due to a blown head gasket
caused
>> by weak head studs is a particular annoyance
>
>> Lawrie
>> British Sportscar Center
|