Generation IV Internal Engine 2005-2014 LS2 | LS3 | LS7 | L92 | LS9

Is THIS normal?!?!

Old Jul 18, 2008 | 02:18 PM
  #1  
Haans249's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Fort Worth, TX
Default Is THIS normal?!?!

I'm about to take off the heads, and noticed that the top 5 head studs nuts are not seated all the way down the stud, there is about 3-4 threads I believe exposed. I checked the torque and they're right at 22-25lbs. I'm wondering if there is not the right head studs in this motor right now. All the rest of the nuts on the ARP head studs are completely seated on the studs... This is an LS2 2004+ block, and those are the studs that i purchased for this build....so is this really normal?

Thanks!
Adrian
Attached Thumbnails Is THIS normal?!?!-stud.jpg  
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2008 | 02:23 PM
  #2  
lstvr's Avatar
10 Second Club
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 458
Likes: 2
From: Birmingham UK
Default

Looks like they are too long, and they have bottomed out, was it leaking?
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2008 | 03:03 PM
  #3  
ss.slp.ls1's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,184
Likes: 28
From: Orange County, CA
Default

Originally Posted by lstvr
Looks like they are too long, and they have bottomed out, was it leaking?
+1...seems like you should have noticed.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2008 | 03:15 PM
  #4  
ss1's Avatar
ss1
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
iTrader: (32)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 1
From: Scarborough, Maine
Default

It looks like the stud is short, and doesn't go all the way through the nut.

...or am I missing something here???
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2008 | 03:25 PM
  #5  
ss.slp.ls1's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,184
Likes: 28
From: Orange County, CA
Default

Originally Posted by ss1
It looks like the stud is short, and doesn't go all the way through the nut.

...or am I missing something here???
Yeah, the picture helps. I guess if you get the proper torque on the stud nuts, then it should work for you. I don't know if that is normal though. It seems strange that only 5 of them do it.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2008 | 03:49 PM
  #6  
Haans249's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Fort Worth, TX
Default

yes my heads were leaking, thats why im concerned that these studs are too short, although, they really don't provide any clamping force, so I dunno. The motor was put together for me from a sponsor here, so i just put the motor in, i didn't double check to make sure the heads were put on properly, i assumed they would have been.

Is this ok? Or is this really something that I should be concerned over, and do I need to order different studs for the top 5 on each head?

Someone who DEFINITELY knows, can you please chime in? These are GM LS7 heads btw, so i dunno if that portion where the nut goes is taller than a LS2 head..

The cometic gaskets were leaking in between each bore from what it looks like.

TIA.
Adrian
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2008 | 04:00 PM
  #7  
ss.slp.ls1's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,184
Likes: 28
From: Orange County, CA
Default

Well if its leaking, you are going to have to pull off the head. While its off you'll have a chance to measure the stud lengths out of the block to see if they are all the same. Once you pull off the head and remove the gasket, you can put the head back in place and look to see if the head is seating evenly and flat. Doing those things should give you some insight as to what is causing the leak.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2008 | 06:05 PM
  #8  
Haans249's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Fort Worth, TX
Default

I've already got the heads off, the heads seat flat, and all of those top studs are the same length.

There appeared to be spots of the gasket that did not seal, BUT, there is a main stud stuck in the deck, I mean, its so binded up that i've broken a bit trying to get it out... Is it possible that if it is in too tight, that it could crack the block? I'd really like to get this out and pressure test the hole, but I can't get it out! Any suggestions? Should I just leave it in and it'll be fine? This sucks
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 18, 2008 | 07:09 PM
  #9  
ss.slp.ls1's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,184
Likes: 28
From: Orange County, CA
Default

The only thing that comes to mind is drilling it and using a bolt extractor.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2008 | 07:17 PM
  #10  
Krom's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 328
Likes: 3
Default

The stud goes into aluminum, which expands much faster with heat than the stud. Just heat the aluminum around the stud with a torch (propane, or MAP gas will be plenty) before you try to loosen the stud again.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2008 | 09:11 PM
  #11  
Haans249's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Fort Worth, TX
Default

Thanks, thats what I plan on doing...

New issue though, and this is VERY disheartening, but on the drivers side of the motor, the pistons are kissing the head at the top of the piston....

I'm thinking that when I take the heads to a machine shop to have them cleaned up, i'll have them mill out like 10 thou in the area where the pistons are touching the head, of course i'll have that done on both heads.

I'm guessing the decks of the block aren't the same height....mannn.... this is getting old fast.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2008 | 09:15 PM
  #12  
ss.slp.ls1's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,184
Likes: 28
From: Orange County, CA
Default

Originally Posted by Haans249
Thanks, thats what I plan on doing...

New issue though, and this is VERY disheartening, but on the drivers side of the motor, the pistons are kissing the head at the top of the piston....

I'm thinking that when I take the heads to a machine shop to have them cleaned up, i'll have them mill out like 10 thou in the area where the pistons are touching the head, of course i'll have that done on both heads.

I'm guessing the decks of the block aren't the same height....mannn.... this is getting old fast.
You need to find out why the pistons are kissing the head. Just milling an area might be a band aid to a bigger problem.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2008 | 09:22 PM
  #13  
Haans249's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Fort Worth, TX
Default

Well, since it is only on one side, it is most likely a deck height difference. If you can think of anything else it could be, please post up your ideas, but otherwise, I don't see how it would even be possible to be anything BUT the deck height, esp since its all only on one side. I guess its possible that the gaskets I were sent weren't both the same thickness, that could also be a possibility.

But just to be safe, i'll have them mill just a slight amount from the flat part the chamber, and put it back together, i'm sure it'll be fine.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2008 | 09:27 PM
  #14  
ss.slp.ls1's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,184
Likes: 28
From: Orange County, CA
Default

I would just check all of you clearances before I bolted everything back up for good.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2008 | 09:52 PM
  #15  
Haans249's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Fort Worth, TX
Default

Oh, clearances will be checked for sure, whether it'll be the last time i unbutton this ******* thing is left to be seen.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2008 | 09:54 PM
  #16  
Phil99vette's Avatar
7 Second Club
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,758
Likes: 9
From: Port Tobacco, MD
Default

Yeah thats normal, mine were too short also so I backed them out just enough to catch all the threads, the smaller ones up top aren't that important.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2008 | 09:59 PM
  #17  
Haans249's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Fort Worth, TX
Default

Thanks for your input Phil, I figured as much. That mustang you're building is out of this world.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2008 | 10:05 PM
  #18  
Phil99vette's Avatar
7 Second Club
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,758
Likes: 9
From: Port Tobacco, MD
Default

Thanks, I don't want to take the heads off but my engine advisors seem to think we have 100+hp on the table just in compression.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2008 | 10:10 PM
  #19  
Haans249's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Fort Worth, TX
Default

100+hp on only .1:1 compression? I suppose anything is possible. That would be awesome if it were to happen.
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2008 | 12:12 PM
  #20  
99blancoSS's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (115)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,892
Likes: 3
From: ST Helens, OR
Default

Is this a home build or something?
Not trying to dis anyone, just trying to find soome facts out about the build.

Those studs up top do not do anything really as stated but it is very interesting that they are to short. What kit did you use?
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:24 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE