O.K.
I was setting my AFR 210 heads on the block and was just puting a few of the nuts on the head studs so I could check my pushrod length and piston to valve clearance and I saw a problem.

I tried to put a nut on the stud between valve springs #3 and #5 and between #4 and #6. It will not physically fit between them, not to mention trying to put a socket on it. I tried to put it on just by fingers and you just cannot fit it between the springs to start it on the stud.

I can set the nut on the stud but if you try to turn it the corners of the nut hit the springs. I figure I can hand tighten all the other nuts and leave this one for last and then pull off the 2 sets of springs that interfere, tighten the nut on the stud, then just put the springs back on. Pain in the a$$, yes but it should work.

I know some guys are running these heads with the 1.550 roller springs out there. What did you have to do. Did you run 12pt head stud nuts, remove the springs, or what.

Not a huge deal, just another challange to make things fun.

Thanks again,

 

try 12 point nuts, not sure if it'd give you enough room or not

 

I've seen that before, AFAIK the easiest way to deal with it is to remove the springs. I doubt it would make any difference whether you used studs or bolts, you'd have the same situation. 12-pt nuts wouldn't help unless they were a smaller hex size, which is probably not practical.

 

<b>I was setting my AFR 210 heads on the block and was just puting a few of the nuts on the head studs so I could check my pushrod length and piston to valve clearance and I saw a problem. </b>

my friend used those heads with huge triple roller springs. He had to use a special spring compresser (moroso) to remove the springs to get the head bolted down. The odd angle of the springs makes it impossible to use some of the spring compressors out there, i was told.

 

I put off working on the head stud/nut issue for a while when I was finishing up the rest of the short block. Now that the bottem end is all finished I am back to screwing around with this clearance problem.

After looking at the heads a little more, I have noticed I cannot put a socket on the nuts on the far ends of the head (center row) eightor. I grown down a socket until there was almost nothing left of it.

This is starting to **** me off. 3 studs on each head cannot have a socket on them. 12 pt nuts will not help due the the same size socket outside diameter.

I know someone has to have the AFR 210 heads with the 1.550 roller spring package. There has to be another way than pulling 3 or 4 springs to clear the socket, that would reallly suck just to put on and take off heads. not to mention 210lb or 220lb springs are just a liitle tough to take off the head when installed on the engine.
Well I am at a stopping point until I figure something out, guess it's time to just crack a beer and admit defeat. Tell me AFR couldnt just give me just a hair more clearance, this sucks.

anyone with these heads like to help a guy out

 

i have heard of some people actually using a good grade allen head bolt in those possitions, even with studs in the rest. i have heard noting but good things about doing it this way. maybe that's something you could look into.

 

I've got some smaller AFR's (190s) but I had the same problem. I got some 12 point nuts and they worked just fine. Easiest way to go. I've got studs too and I just ordered a few nuts from ARP. No probs.

Ben

 

12 point nuts will be a smaller socket size for any given bolt size, i used 12 point arp bolts on my 190's, you can get socket head ( allen) bolts they will work fine too. I like 12 points nuts because they are practically impossible to strip

 

Get in touch with ARP. I'm sure they have heard of this problem plenty and have something for you to use to correct it.

 

great,

I didn't realize that 12pt nuts would use a smaller size socket than a regualar hex head nut would use for the same stud diameter.
That would be awsome if that works, these are the small things that suck about being stationed in italy, have to wait 2 weeks for a few nuts to arrive...especially during christamas mail traffic!

oh well, good to know problem may be solved, thanks again guys

 

Your profile says your an F-16 Crew Chief, you cant find some high grade 12 point Nuts?? Or socket head bolts? There goes one of the great perks of working in aviation. I thought most Aircraft Hardware was 12 point, at least it was when i was in school.

 

I found one size nut that would work but it has a lot of running torque. most fasteners have some kind of running torque if they are not cotterkeyed or saftey wired. I didn't it would be a good idea to use a nut with running torque. I would rather wait a couple weeks to get ARP's nuts. I have no deadline to meet as far as this engine goes.

any way not supposed to use government supplies for personal use.

 

man thats too bad, i would think a spare f100 would be nice!!

 

O.k

I got the nuts in the mail yesterday and I was more than pleased that a 1/2in 12pt socket would fit on the nut. Before with the 6pt hex head nut it was a 5/8in socket. Well with the much smaller diameter socket that I was able to use, the heads went on no problem.

The air flow research 210 heads are on and I am again a happy fella

 

Glad to hear it worked out for you. Hope all you guys overseas have a Merry Christmas and a great new year. As a civilian, Thanks for your hard work and sacrifice all year and especially during the holidays.