[Mean Green]

I have a set of High Ports that the head studs in 2 exhaust ports are visible. You can see approximately 1/8" wide and 1/2" tall of head stud.

Is this a problem?

[PAUL K]

That is fairly common on max effort heads. We usually install a sleeve to keep the exhaust gases away from the stud. Possible issues is the bolt boss starts to leak exhaust or collapses when the bolt/nut is torqued and it doesn't hold its torque value.

[Elarson]

Ouch...not a good idea.

Heating the studs make them grow longer (for a loss of preload) and makes the stiffness (modulus of elasticity for the engineering types) go down for another loss of preload.

Putting a protective sleeve around them is a great idea.

Eric

[John Langer]

No issue, run them

[Half-Inch Stud]

Cast head metal and stud both grow, so yea no issue.

[68azbird]

junk it

[steve25]

I would put a additional 5 lb of torque on those studs to compensate for the extra growth in those studs from direct contact with 1100 degree or more temps!

I can't fathom why this type of porting work is done on these heads as the runner has far more area to it then the main restriction point that is the throat of the valve bowl!

More time spent with a velocity probe would make it clear what to do to steer the Exh flow to make better usage of the port area within the runner!

It's a quick porting fix that can make for the issue of reduced clamping force on those studs!

[Dragncar]

My Gabby E heads are like that, pretty sure they have sleeves in them too.

[mgarblik]

I have a variety of thin wall stainless sleeves if you decide to make a repair. PM me the dimensions you need and how many and I will provide for postage if I have them. My sleeves are .030" wall

[Scott Roberts]

Originally Posted by John Langer

No issue, run them

This... if you don't believe anyone on here, believe that guy..

[taff2]

I would be concerned about loss of gasket clamp load from making the bolt column thinner. How long are head gaskets lasting with heads ported like this?

[mgarblik]

Originally Posted by taff2

I would be concerned about loss of gasket clamp load from making the bolt column thinner. How long are head gaskets lasting with heads ported like this?

Understand the concern. What I generally do in this situation is install the thin stainless sleeve, .030" wall and then use a hardened step washer on top to address this issue of possible column collapse. Have done this quite a few times on E-heads over the years. I have never dealt with this specific issue on KRE heads as I haven't worked with them. But have on E-heads, Tiger Heads and other brands for non-Pontiac applications.

[bad69bird]

Originally Posted by Scott Roberts

This... if you don't believe anyone on here, believe that guy..

X2...

[Mean Green]

I'm going to run the heads as is for now. They will go to Paul K for sleeves when it's time to freshen them up.

mgarblik, thank you, I appreciate the offer.

taff2, the heads only have dyno time on them at this point, so we will see.

[Jim Robertson]

Never had a problem with head studs exposed to exhaust gases. Pontiacs, chevies, fords.

[Skip Fix]

My old KRE hand ported E heads have a tube in the intake ports for the head bolt, as well as pushrods.