Checking for broken head studs
 

In the process of finishing up a valve adjustment. How do you actually "check" for broken head studs. What is it that I should be looking for? Thanks in advance. Oh by the way its an '87 3.2

Greys
:p

bump

The good news is 3.2s don't typically have broken head studs.

In some cases the nut with or without the broken piece of stud rolls right out when you take off the lower valve cover.

Some recommend torquing the head stud to it's normal value, but that seems almost like asking for trouble. I just put enough pressure on mine to make sure they're secure and leave it at that.

Mac

Use Mac's advice.

The studs you are looking for are recessed into the heads. They have barrel nuts on them with a 10mm allen head on them. One is right next to the spark plug, the others are at the 3 other "corners" of the cylinder. A visual check that the barrel nuts are still there is probably all you need. If you want to do more you can try to torque them but usually they are rusted on pretty tight.

-Andy

Check the barrel nuts with a 25 lb setting on your torque wrench. Any broken or loose head stud or barrel nut isn't likely to click the 25 lns setting. Like Mac said, the 3.2's are usually free from failed head stud issues.

While you have the vavle covers off, check that the rocker shafts are not leaking into the fins of the heads. Check that they are position correctly (i.e. that they haven't slid left or right of where they should sit. If these checks reveal oil or ppor offset of the shafts, you'll want to address the issue now.

I disagree on the broken head studs. The lowers are dilavar and have been know to brea. How do I know? I just finished a 7 week project that started with a broken head stud and ended with a full clutch job as well. The uppers are steel and are close to bulletproof. I do agree that just giving a snug tug is all that is needed.

When I pulled mine down for a clutch job, I replaced the bottoms w/ steel just to be safe. Anyone want to buy 12 Delvar Studs?

Keith Epperly
87 slant nose turbo look carrera cabriolet