i was painting my engine and it fell over on the heads, i cracked part of one of my heads, it is half of the guide where the rocker stud screws in. it is not broken to the point that you can see threads but it is cracked off on one half. will this still be okay. i never even ran the brand new vortec head.
thanks
jake

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87 Iroc-Z 350 TPI
Dynomax exhaust
modified MAF & filter box
modified ARAP chip
3-10" JL subs
Eclipse components

 

without a pic i'd hate to guess, but you have to figure gm made the casting the way they did for strength. cast iron isn't hard to weld with steel mig, but you'd have to remove the head to do it most likely.

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ICON Motorsports
1st & 3rd
MM Black Diamond 538 F&AM

 

Post a pic, maybe we can guess... but it doesn't sound too good at this point though. It's certainly alot easier to pop the head off and get it taken care of now, than it will be when it fails later while you're driving down the street later. I'd be concerned about the stud pulling out.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

87,

If the rocker stud boss is cracked, you must repair it or it will self-destruct in the engine after a short time running.

Ed's advice is sound, to weld the cracks with the appropriate filler and remachine the surface and rethread the hole. I too would suggest removing the head for this work. If you don't weld yourself, try to find a shop that wil nickel weld (not braze) the casting. If you have trouble, try a boat propeller repair shop - those guys can weld nearly anything successfully.

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Later,
Vader
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Adobe Acrobat Reader

[This message has been edited by Vader (edited September 12, 2001).]

 

Don't Vortecs have press in studs?

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4. 2.93 limited slip. 2-1/2" cat-back, ZZ3 intake, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 CC system w/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam, ported World 305 heads, Hooker 2055 headers, 3" Catco cat & 3" catback, restalled TC, Spohn SFCs).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7 CR forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Holley 750VS w/4150 conversion, GK 270 cam, Magnum rockers, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders & 3" Warlocks, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, MegaShifter, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Idles smooth @ 600 RPM in D. Best 15.02/95.06 @ 5800' Bandimere (corrected 13.93/102.4 @ sea level).

 

I had a similar accident on my heads. I pressed the crack closed with a c clamp and ran a bead up it with the appropriate rod on my arc welder. I didn't do any other machining to it. I don't have a whole lot of time on it yet..but so far no problems.

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"American made baby. 100% American iron. The muscle among the masses. My hero. Yep, you can take your ergonomically designed, space age, computer controlled, 4 door, cup holding map lighted split double wishbone split fold down retractable cargo covered moon roof piece of transportation and keep it. For I have felt the thunder. And I know the difference!"
JSP Motorsports
ICON Motorsports

 

Not exactly the response i wanted to hear but i suppose i should try to get it fixed, welding it may not be possible as a piece is actually missing (1/4 of the stud boss). Does any one have suggestions for fixing it. it would require some type of filler like liquid metal that can withstand high temp.
thanks

[This message has been edited by 87ColdAirIroc-Z (edited September 13, 2001).]