Head Stud Question

[DSH1]

I know the subject of head studs has been thoroughly mined, but having pulled the lower drivers' valve cover and found a handful of disappointment (4), I thought I'd ask whether broken studs are more a function of time or wear. This is a 78 3.0 with 24K miles that I am relatively certain to be true. It's my third 78SC. It belonged to an elderly friend of the family, since new, and sat idle for many years. When the friend passed on, those who knew my affinity for the car suggested me to the family and I bought it for very little - so no hard feelings - just wondering why, with so little mileage, I pulled four studs out of the first cover I pulled? (Can't bear to pull the others or turn the engine over at all) Was the old man sneaking road trips with the speedo off? (it doesn't seem to stick) Does time alone wreck the dilivars? Just curious.

Thanks.

[sww914]

I think it's time.
I replaced them on a PERFECT SC with 18,000 miles on it, about 5 years ago. I pulled the valve covers to adjust the valves, and a head nut with a little bit of stud on it came out. The car had been gently used, perfectly maintained, garaged, never in the rain, and it had 7 broken studs.

[Tom F2]

I have seen a perfect Carrera 3.2 with 12,000 miles, and 18 years of mostly sitting around, with a broken headstud.

[88-diamondblue]

Congratulations on a good buy. The dilavar studs have been known to break when brand spanking new. Time, heat, corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement (due to the heat cycles) all work against us on this one. IMHO dilavar studs will break, all it take is one to break to have to fix. Guess we should just look at them as a wear item that need replacing at some point. If everything else on the engine is in good shape you should just put new steel studs in and put it back together. If you do it your self you are looking at $130 studs, some gaskets, both needed and some recommended, tools and your time to do it