Head Stud Question/Concern - 1986 Coupe

[fallingat120mph]

Originally Posted by mepstein

We had a 3.2 in the shop. Owner only wanted to replace broken head studs and nothing else. We replaced the studs. The next day, there were broken studs on the floor. While looking at the engine, I heard a pop and personally witnessed a stud with its nut still attached, fly up about a foot and fall to the floor. Since then, our motto has been - all or nothing. If we do a top end on a 3.2, it gets new studs. We don’t ever “re-tourque” studs. Either replace or leave everything alone. And let the customer know that divlar may break at any time without warning.

After reading through different forums and articles this comes up a lot - head studs breaking after re-torquing, after adjusting valves, or trying to replace 'just broken' studs...stories of coming in the next day and seeing studs laying on the floor under the engine...etc.

The re-torquing, to me personally, seems like a bad idea if you have the original studs - - material, corrosion, and age wise. I just checked very passively that they were still intact and it seems that may have been just enough to have another one break.


With the new engine, after I swap, I will run the typical checks (leak down, etc), and run it for a year or so and then make plans to replace the lower head studs, trying very very hard to stay away from the "while you are in there" trap. That engine/trans is very solid all around.

Then...start the rebuild on the "bad" engine and finally tear apart and rebuild myself. I have plenty of time and a nice space - am very lucky. I have yet to break down an engine completely and feel at this point I can handle it. Time will tell.

It's been nice getting input and bouncing thoughts off forum members. Appreciate the stories and different opinions.

On a side note, I did call two shops and the feeling I got is if they aren't broken don't mess with OR just replace them all for piece of mind. Seems like this is becoming an issue for the 80's cars...

It appears that time has caught up with the 3.2 era.

If I was in the market for a new older 911 I think this is something I would take care of right away. I've always just gotten the standard PPI, trusting my instinct and purchased...I wish I had dived a little deeper about the head stud issues...live and learn.



Erik

[fallingat120mph]

Originally Posted by PeteKz

Just be careful of the "while you're in there" syndrome!

Indeed

[SCadaddle]

Originally Posted by fallingat120mph

It appears that time has caught up with the 3.2 era.
Erik

There were 964's with broken head studs more than 12 years ago that I'm aware of.

[kevbo]

I attended tony's introduction to engine rebuild class last year and it definitely helped when I removed my engine and did some maintenance. tony's a great guy too with tons of experience

[996AE]

SuperTec for my 3.2 bottom up build

[fallingat120mph]

Originally Posted by kevbo

I attended tony's introduction to engine rebuild class last year and it definitely helped when I removed my engine and did some maintenance. tony's a great guy too with tons of experience

Been researching that, thanks!

Originally Posted by 996AE

SuperTec for my 3.2 bottom up build

Those are in my "cart/project list". Still trying to understand/learn the rates of expansion (dilavar vs steel) but seems like steel studs are the answer - for me: street car 8-10,000 miles a year...steel seems fine for aluminum.