Stepd head studs for KB block

My hemi KB block has 1/2 head studs. I am looking in changing to 9/16 head studs so I can run a later model head. I understand there is steped head studs avalible. Are these a good fix or this something to stay away from? These are new to me so any input would be greatly helpful. Thanks

 

I've got the same deal, 1/2" stud block and 9/16" stud heads. Was told ARP makes them and that they're not uncommon.

 

I'm wondering why a guy couldn't run 1/2" studs with the bigger head holes? We do it on our BBC's, 7/16 studs with heads that are setup for 1/2".

 

Hey Nitrohaulic,

This post caught my eye last night, I have never seen these studs and was wondering how they are made, does the 1/2 stud diameter continue up the shaft of the stud and then transition to 9/16th just prior to the threads?

I am asking this as some of the 9/16th studs have the straight shank and are designed for very little stretch and some have a reduced shank to provide more stretch. It seems to me that if you had the 9/16th shank running all the way through the heads to the block then they would concentrate all the load at the point where they transition to 1/2 at the block and thread junction.

If you or anyone else who has seen these remember how they were configured please let me know.

Thanks in advance,

Richard Gavle

 

call BAE they make a deal that goes in the head stud holes that will turn them from a 9/16 to a 1/2 its a real slick deal..I bought some heads that had them in there..dave
www.myspace.com/daveloweswr

 

My fault. What I meant is I have heads with 9/16 holes in them. I have the same deal as far as I'm going to need the stepped studs or sleeves.

 

I also had someone say they couldn't see why you shouldn't be able to.

 

steped studs

One of the problems that I was told is that with the later hemi heads neading to be torqued at 150# . The 1/2 studs can't take that much.

 

I once ran a KB stage 10 block that had 9/16" holes in the block with 1/2" holes in the heads. There are tapered studs for that particular problem. I would be afraid to run an actual stepped stud as the step would cause a stress riser and a place for failure. The simplest fix is to get the correct sized inserts that go in the heads that the nut and washer run up against. Its probably the cheepest and simpliest way to fix this. Dave Germain

 

The stepped studs do not have a square step, it is tappered right after the larger threads. Doug

 

You'll have the same problem with stepped studs. The smallest crosssection will determine how much torque you can put on them. So going with full length 1/2 studs seems to be easiest.
You may even be able to torque them close to specification as well. Remember that a coarse thread will need more torque to get the same pre-tension (or clamping force if you like). Since the 9/16 is more coarse than the 1/2 stud you can get the same pre-tension with lower torque. You will be stretching it to the limit, but you definitely do not need 150 on the 1/2 studs.
My estimate would be around 135 or so, but I'd advise to check with KB or BAE as they probably have some experience in this part.

HTH,
Marcel