I started installing 1.6 Full roller rocker arms, and once I got the valve cover off I realized something that made me cringe. The L98 has those damnable press fit rocker studs. Several years ago in an 85' Monte SS with the L69, I did comp cams 1.6 roller tip rocker arms and it began pulling the studs out of the heads. Rather than drill through the studs and install pins, I put the stock rockers back on the 305. Now I am wondering if the full roller will make a difference from just the roller tips when it comes to reducing the chance of pulling the studs from the heads.

Has anyone had this happen on an L98 with full roller rockers? I did a search and it looks like one guy did back in 2007. How common is this? Remind me to kick GM in the ***** for putting such a stupid set up in their SBC's.

 

Nothing to do with roller;
is to do with extra leverage from 1.6 ratio .
If the rocker can pull the stud up instead of pushing the valve down it will do so .Same problem arises when fitting heavier springs to push in stud heads

 

Gotta a buddy with a 91 camaro he had the same problem. He had the pushins removed and had them drilled and taped with thread locker on them.

 

I understand that. I was having the wishful thinking of perhaps the new roller rocker replacing the bezel would have less resistance to movement, and somehow make the chance of pulling out the stud less probable.

Anyone ever tried tack welding the stud to the head? I know its risky because the head will get hot and may shift the metal just enough to cause a head gasket leak. But, a tack weld only takes a second, and should be the extra bit of hold needed to prevent this. If I decide to risk it, I could have someone spinning the waterpump pulley as I do it, just to circulate the heat better. I dont care about what it does to the head, because if I ever take the stock L98 heads off for any reason, I am definitly going to replace them with something better.

 

To weld cast iron heads successfully you usually have to heat them in a oven and weld while hot.
Notwithstanding you are trying to weld a steel stud to a cast iron head ; different metals

 

vetteoz is correct you will messup your heads trying to tack them

 

Ok so I installed the driver side head rocker arms and new valve seals. I decided to take the good advice mentioned above and not tackweld the studs. The smoke on start up is much better but of course not gone because I only did 1 side. Its been a few weeks since I completed this project, and I have put probably 300 miles on the car since then, most of which came from the Texas State Wide Gathering 3 hours away.

So far.. *crossing fingers* I have not heard the tell tale tapping sign of a rocker stud pulling out. I think I may be one of the lucky ones who wont have the problem of them backing out. In another month or so, if there are still no issues, I will install them on the passenger side head. Just sharing my happy, hopefully, success story.