Broken Headstuds

[MassGuy]

I am in the process of buying a 78 SC. If I am not willing to take a crap shoot I need to check the head studs on this car. I have never done this but I am up to the task. I like to wrench when things go right and I do my homework.

Can someone please be kind enough to walk me through this procedure. What tools should I bring? 10mm wrench right? Flashlight, ok. What else?
What should I be looking for?
How long does it usually take?
What if I see a couple? Is there acceptable amount of them?
How big of a do it yourselfer is it to repair them?

Thanks for taking the time.

[GaryR]

Unless the owner is crazy he isn't going to let you start ripping into his car. You need to pull the valve covers (need to replace those gaskets you just ruined) and check each stud. Pay a shop to do a PPI.

Is this the 3rd thread you have started about this car or do I have you confused with someone else?

[MassGuy]

Isnt this what this place is for. Who cares about thread count? You?

[GaryR]

Originally Posted by MassGuy

Isnt this what this place is for. Who cares about thread count? You?

No, see I come here to try and help people when possible and you, from what I read in the last 10 minutes, are a clueless wannabe flipper.

[efhughes3]

I thought you already bought the car?? Is this "closing the barn door after the horse is gone"?

[smestas]

Well for starters if the head studs have not already been replaced its just a matter of time before one or all of them go.

The easiest way to tell if one or more are already broken is by removing the valve covers and checking the head stud nuts. Usually if one is broken they fall right out. At least mine did when they failed.

To replace them you have to tear the motor down pretty far (80%) which is why most folks just end up doing a full rebuild. Thats how I went about it when mine went bad.

[MassGuy]

The money is still in my pocket.

GaryR. I am an enthusiast through and through. I also like to make money. If I cant sell this car I need to keep it. Why would I want to invest my money in something I wouldnt want to keep if I had to. I could go to an auction and buy anything and try to flip it. I just have a serious connsction to these cars.

Dude whats your problem the more I think about it the more I start to picture you typing with tears running down your cheeks. You come off like Jesus and finish like Lucielle Ball. LOL sometimes it is tough to see the humor in a situation but given enough thought it can be done.

[MassGuy]

Originally Posted by smestas

Well for starters if the head studs have not already been replaced its just a matter of time before one or all of them go.

The easiest way to tell if one or more are already broken is by removing the valve covers and checking the head stud nuts. Usually if one is broken they fall right out. At least mine did when they failed.

To replace them you have to tear the motor down pretty far (80%) which is why most folks just end up doing a full rebuild. Thats how I went about it when mine went bad.

ALAS a normal response from a mature porschephile.

Thank you!

[Aurel]

Originally Posted by efhughes3

I thought you already bought the car?? Is this "closing the barn door after the horse is gone"?

You can find your answer in his other thread, and I found here the answer to my question about headstuds the other thread. Funny game, huh .

[JMH82SC]

withdrawn

[efhughes3]

Yep, interesting....one thread he's trying to sell it for $10K, another here he's seeming to have "pre-buyer's remorse" which could of easily been "due diligence" instead had he heeded the advice offered on his first thread asking what a '78 SC is worth. I'm guessing the potential buyer field will be somewhat narrowed, at least in this community.

I'm sorry Mass guy, but you kind of went about all of this backwards, and this can be pretty much like being back in school again. When your classmates "smell" a weakness, they can be pretty cruel.

[MassGuy]

LOL if you take it that serious. Evidently you do.

Its the internet silly.......face it your losing touch man

[efhughes3]

Step 1-open yourself up for criticism in your actions.
Step 2- Start to insult others' intelligence
Step 3- Dig in and throw barbs and insults back at the critics
Step 4- TBD

[MassGuy]

[yelcab1]

Mass guy,

You don't win points and get help by putting off people who have been around on this board for a long time. Note efhughes3's post count. We try to help enthusiasts and DIY owners. Flippers are not the most popular around here, although you are entitled to your right to flip anything.

Having said all that, here are the answers:

1. Jack up the car, support it and crawl underneath
2. Open up the exhaust valve covers with a 13mm socket, or wrench.
3. Be prepared to have some oil drained onto your arms, or face.
4. Look for a broken stud normally attached to a 10mm allen head barrel nut
5. If you find one, then count on much money to fix.

Good luck doing that to any of my cars, you won't touch it unless I am convinced you knowwhat you are doing and know what you are looking for and talking about. And right now, you know nothing about Porsche 911.

And good luck flipping the car(s). You won't be selling it to me. I have enough and ... I do not like flippers.

[MassGuy]

I feel like a REBEL. Yea baby I like it.

[dtw]

Valve covers (4) must come off. They are secured with M10 nuts (13mm wrench/socket). 6 ea. on the upper covers and I believe 11 ea. on the lowers. Be prepared for valve cover studs to come out welded to the nut on several. Have a valve adjust kit handy (4 new valve cover gaskets, new M10 nuts and aluminum crush washers).

If you jack the car up really high on just one side, you can pull the lower valve cover without spilling oil (and avoiding an oil change). Repeat on the other side after buttoning up the last.

There are 24 head studs, 6 under each cover. I think they are 10mm allen-head. Usually broken ones will just be lying there loose inside the valve cover and will often fall out. However, you should still put a wrench on each head stud nut, just in case, even if each looks secure. Sometimes the broken stud will still be sitting in the correct position and will look fine until you put a wrench on it. Yes, as you mentioned a flashlight is very helpful in inspecting the nuts.

Usually - usually - the broken studs are on the bottom - as the upper studs are usually steel and do not break. However, I have seen instances where Dilivar studs were installed on the top row sometime during the engine's life. Thus, I always check the top and bottom, regardless.

If you are now the proud owner of this engine, it will be silly to go to all this effort without also doing a valve adjustment at the same time.




So, did you buy it, or not? The frustrations of the previous posters have merit.

[Hesse James]

Originally Posted by MassGuy

I feel like a REBEL. Yea baby I like it.

But there is a small line between feeling rebellious or reaching puberty...

[GaryR]

Originally Posted by MassGuy

Dude whats your problem the more I think about it the more I start to picture you typing with tears running down your cheeks. You come off like Jesus and finish like Lucielle Ball. LOL sometimes it is tough to see the humor in a situation but given enough thought it can be done.

Sorry to take so long to respond to the personal attack.

Lets see, the tears.
Only tears I would shed for you are one's of laughter, but I see no humor here. Don't try and disguise the facts with "i'm an enthusiast!". The only thing you are enthusiastic about is trying to make money here, as shown clearly when looking at your previous posts shilling a couple of 993's (sorry, didn't bother looking back more than a couple months, i'm sure there were more).

Edit: Good to see you are making so many friends here, guess the abrasive used car salesman / flipper thing isn't working out too well for you...

[mike monde]

Massguy,
"I feel like a REBEL. Yea baby I like it"

Your responses back on this thread and the other that you started pertaining to this car to some pretty respected fellas on this board are comming off as childish. My suggestion would be to do your homework before asking questions and respect the reponses that you receive.
Tone down your responses to answers that may not be in line with what you want to hear.

I have owned three 911's and the little I know about these cars is from reading this board. The few times that I posted a question, the responses and solutions have been spot on from the responding members.

Respect the forum even if you dont like the reponse that you get. In the long run you will get some very valuable information that not only willhelp you make decisions with p-car purchase, but help you avoid the newbe mistakes that is bound to happen with your ignorance to these cars. Act childish or disrespecful and you will gain nothing, giving respect, even when you dont like the response goes a long way in keeping the helpful responses comming

Good luck in your purchase and what ever you decide to do with that car.