Thread: rocker stud issue

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Does anyone know what's more prone to wearing: the rocker stud or the nut. I am putting together a stock 283 with press in studs and new rocker nuts (not poly locks) and when setting the lash, i notice that the tension on some of the adjustments feel looser than others. I'm hoping not to remove the heads to screw in studs as the engine is assembled. Thanks

if used nuts they do not like to be taken off with a inpact or any thing fast heats the nut up and lack of lube will hurt the studs some times . some nuts are not as good as others .if on and off more then a time or two they get weak .you can buy poly locks . or buy new nuts or go thru some old nuts find the best ones .some of the new nuts are cheap .i keep all the old gm ones if any get loose or what i used to when i was kid hit the tops with a hammer when off and reuse them

thanks for the response Pat. The nuts are new and before the rebuild, this eng had some valvetrain noise. Upon inspection, I found loose rocker arms. The same rocker nuts that are loose today. So I bought new nuts and that seemed to work. Then I took this motor apart for a rebuild. So I have only used these nuts once before. Maybe I should purchase poly locks just to be safe. Since the lash is already set, do you think that if I clean the studs and apply locktite to the tops of the studs that it will work into the threads. Sounds stupid but what do you think? I'm trying to avoid turning the motor anymore as I don't want to wipe off anymore cam lube. thanks

no i would think putting loc tite would not work. put poly locks on it if things back off but if you have new nuts on it now it should be fine less your pulling up the press in studs out of the heads

back in the old days before polylocks we would put the nuts in a vise and squeeze them until they fit tight it has worked for me.......ted

Is this a Hyd. Cam or solid lift cam

Are you sure you're not pulling studs? New nuts getting loose right away would ring that particular bell in my mind, especially in a 283; it is old enough to have that possibility.

The studs look fine. I installed polylocks just to be safe. I hope that I didn't wipe off too much cam lube as I have now set the lash for a second time. Thanks for all of the replies.