[mgarblik]

Originally Posted by GTOGEORGE

If i’d known then what I know now I’d went with 9/16” head studs!
Diesels and Jap junks have better head studs!

GTO George

George,
If you were to convert to 9/16" studs, it's not too late block wise. You can direct tap a 1/2" tapped block to 9/16" You won't quite get the 75% thread engagement, but they will certainly hold an aluminum head. Since you run the KRE heads, and I know little about them, you would want to give them a call. You have to make sure they have enough column thickness to support the larger studs and won'd crush or break through. I know early E heads DO NOT have enough material to support 9/16" studs, even with deep step washers. So a conversion may not be as easy at it seems. If you can do it, 9/16" studs give you MUCH more clamp load on the heads. We torque to 135 ft. lbs. But our heads are solid.

[GTOGEORGE]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

George,
If you were to convert to 9/16" studs, it's not too late block wise. You can direct tap a 1/2" tapped block to 9/16" You won't quite get the 75% thread engagement, but they will certainly hold an aluminum head. Since you run the KRE heads, and I know little about them, you would want to give them a call. You have to make sure they have enough column thickness to support the larger studs and won'd crush or break through. I know early E heads DO NOT have enough material to support 9/16" studs, even with deep step washers. So a conversion may not be as easy at it seems. If you can do it, 9/16" studs give you MUCH more clamp load on the heads. We torque to 135 ft. lbs. But our heads are solid.

Solid heads thats cheating!


GTO George