[bmarchet]

i am ready to jump... maybe someone can talk me off the ledge.

i have a 1980 3.0 SC with dilavar studs. i know they stink and are prone to break, but that's how the motor came. i recently had my valves done by a pro who presumable checked the torque on the studs before putting covers back on.

i am hearing the classic PLAB-PLAB-PLAB when the car is running that gets faster with rpms...

there is no rattle which might imply a broken stud...
car runs and pulls just fine...
there is no blow-by or oil any where near any of the mating surfaces on any cylinder...
it seems to be loudest on one side closest to the timing chains...

i guess my questions are:

is there any obvious signs of a pulled/broken stud other than the sound?

what horrible things can happen to my motor if it is driven... even to the mechanic?

some posters on this page write about driving around happily with several broken studs. is it different if it's a pulled stud?

any help would be greeat. i am freaking out. thank you.