Just curious to see if any one has had a "Pressed In" rocker arm stud pull out on VORTEC heads.

I have heard the GM has improved the rocker arm stud retention from years past.

 

Threaded studs are a pretty good solution. Then again, I've had some off those come out, too.

 

I ran a bone stock set of Vortecs (purchased new in 2004) with a cam similar to Comps old 268H (flat tappet, .454") for nearly 50 000 miles with no issues. Plenty of RPM (needless RPM I should add) and bent a couple of valves on a missed shift. Made a repair and they kept on going. After the cam went flat , I made the move to a hydraulic roller and screwed in studs.

 

Anyone else have issues with stock Vortec head "pressed-in" rocker arm studs pulling out?

 

I have not known of 1 incident of this on Vortecs or other post 80's sbc heads at all. On the 60's era heads it was common.

 

Pretty common. Been acoupla posts on here about it over the years, one I can recall even with photos. Mostly when people put in a cam and don't check retainer-guide clearance, just like any other heads.

Of course, you can hardly blame the heads or studs for that, "Vortec" or any other; that's just plain builder sloppiness.

I can't imaging how anything could have been done to cast iron, or to steel, to make the studs in any particular casting # any different about pullout than any other casting #. Not saying "it can't" or "it isn't" or whatever, only, I can't imagine how. Slapping the label "Vortec" on something doesn't somehow alter the inherent properties of the materials and whatnot that they're made out of, as far as I'm aware.

As far as I'm concerned, I'd be just exactly as careful about it with those heads, as with any other. No difference.

 

GM 'up-set' the ends of the rocker studs. Basically put an slight ring around the bottom of the stud to help prevent pull out. From personal experience with an older set of SBC heads, I was having issues with the studs pulling out, or 'lifting' just a slight amount.

High RPM, stronger springs, OK, I can see it. So pinned the studs. That prevented the studs from pulling out, but didn't stop the eventual valve train tick that was occurring.

Hmmm, OK, now finding bent pushrods.... Ever so slight, but no longer straight.

In the end it was that the rocker arm slots were bottoming on the studs. Shouldn't have as the lift was mild, but that was the issue. Elongated the slots a little, new pushrods and all was good.

RBob.