[Walt Fricke]

Tom
If I may ask, why did you knock out the largish steel plug at the far end of the cam carrier? I can't think of any reason to do that unless a) you have two left side carriers, and want to convert one to a right side carrier (or vice versa) or b) you wanted to plate it. But with the engine in place no one can see it, and plating won't extend its life because its life is already basically infinite.

I also wonder what prompted you to pull the valve cover studs. I don't believe these studs are routinely pulled absent thread damage (which is unusual). Lots of work, some modest risk, and just what is the gain?

Are you planning to do this with the case perimeter studs, too? The 8mm studs which connect cam carrier to head?

Some machining operations call for pulling studs - in which case I suppose one could have them plated, though simply purchasing new might be fairly cost effective?

Lots of rebuilders will send out some of the hardware which has to be removed in the ordinary course out to be replated. If for no other reason than much of it is visible and it looks good on reassembly (though Nylocs are often replaced with new), and at least for a shop with a relationship with a replater isn't awfully expensive.

This can be a labor of love, but one might consider if one is making a lot of extra work for little or no ultimate mechanical benefit. Replacing worn moving parts is one thing - replacing functioning static parts is something else.

Or is this a Katrina engine, got soaked in salt water?