stud upgrade for factory rockers

[Superdave]

I've always thought about building a stud girdle but with the limited space it might be a major pain.

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[bob442]

if you intigrated it into the stock valve cover...no it wouldnt

[NateD4]

Hmmm I've often thought that same thing.

Is anyone seriously interested in this? I've been toying with the idea for a while. I could create a 3D CAD model and have it rapid cast into new valve covers. I have no idea exact costs, but if anyone was interested in pursuing it and serious about it I wouldn't mind investing the time to make the CAD models to give to the pattern shop for casting or forging..... (gears are now turning rapidly...)

[ericjon262]

if you intigrated it into the stock valve cover...no it wouldnt

I think the intake clearance is too tight IIRC.

[geldartb]

Most difficult is to drill the new larger hole downright.
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probably want to use a drill press for that. should be able to get one those vise attachments for a drill press to hold the head.

[geldartb]

I've always thought about building a stud girdle but with the limited space it might be a major pain.

what about integrating something like the older 3100 heads. if we could get longer studs for the stock rockers it could work.

heads14.jpg

[NateD4]

I think those are simply pushrod guides. Perhaps to help with pushrod bending/vibration at high RPM?

Though something similar might be do-able.

One thing interesting about the Gen III+ heads they have the steel mounting pads for the rockers. LS7s which use similar rockers do not have this, nor do the older style. They rely on the stud to transmit all the bending. If torqued properly the Gen III+ rocker mount pedestals help to transmit some of the bending to the base at the head.

[Superdave]

The gen2/early 3100 guideplates would help a little but the majority of the problem is at the top of the stud.


longer studs and something like this is going to be the answer...




Now, to talk Marc into making them, and some valve covers that they'll fit under.. haha

[bob442]

find longer headed bolts with a threaded insert on the heads of them, bolt them on, fill the valve cover with clay, remove, trim out clearance and unnessisary weight, make a negetive, cast it, drill holes to run bolts into fancy rocker bolts, and done. the only way to accomplish this is to make the valve cover the gurdle

[NateD4]

The splaying of the valve makes it a bit tougher, but I may be able to find someone to make them. How many other people are serious about them?