Club 80-90 Forums

In the middle of fitting a set of head bolts, one quick question do they tighten all the way in till they bottom out or do the threads just go into the block and stop?

No takers on this one yet?
I've tried brickworks who I bought the studs from and they can't be sure either.
Does anyone have an old block lying about that they could measure the length of an installed stud?
Not to keen on installing these incorrectly as a full set was expensive.

Hi there, although I have re-built a wbx (once) I did not have to disturb the studs. However, a suggestion = ring Elite VW who re-build these on a daily(ish) basis, they will know.

http://www.elitevw.com/contact.htm

Top tip, thanks for that. Got the info I was looking for.

Glad to help

Bigjcc55 wrote: Got the info I was looking for.

But tell us the answer then ! (for future readers )

Good point! They don't go all the way home, put them in enough so the shoulder doesn't foul the base of the barrel. But not too far in that the head nut has nothing to grip, do a couple of dry runs with the water jacket seal in place and no push rod tubes to get a happy medium.

Bigjcc55 wrote:Good point! They don't go all the way home, put them in enough so the shoulder doesn't foul the base of the barrel. But not too far in that the head nut has nothing to grip, do a couple of dry runs with the water jacket seal in place and no push rod tubes to get a happy medium.

Thanks

As that is a useful but not commonly known bit of info, I have added it to the wiki under the section on head leaks at = https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Pe ... furb_notes

The normal rule that I've used in engineering is that screws engage one and a half times their diameter, ie an M10 screw would engage to a depth of 15mm. For a stud in a soft material it would possibly be twice the diameter of the thread - M10 / 20mm.

Mick.

I've taken some measurements before the heads go back on. these are taken from the edge of the case where the water jacket seal fits to the end of the stud.
the four long studs were 104mm
second longest were 72mm
and the shortest were 56mm
with the stud at that depth the tread is all the way in the casing and deep enough that the shoulders don't foul the base of the barrels.
and long enough for the nut to get a proper grip without the stud bottoming out inside the nut.

Bigjcc55 wrote: and long enough for the nut to get a proper grip without the stud bottoming out inside the nut.

Aye that is an important factor and a bugger if it was wrong

Did you decide to use any thread lock at the case end ( I guess it's not necessary) ?

Elite recommended no thread lock. Hopefully get them on this week, and get the engine back.

Having a bit of trouble trying to source the two tubes of sealer for re-fitting my heads, I've used up the tubes I got the first time I fitted them, then discovered the studs were a tiny bit on the long side.
I've tried brickworks and heritage but they are only available as part of a head or engine gasket kit!
Are there any alternatives to what is supplied or is it available anywhere else? I'm not too keen on buying a gasket kit just for the sealer.
Thanks

Try searching on eBay for a tube of "the right stuff" I used it when I did mine with no problems, our American cousins seem to love it.

I found it, did you use this on the head nuts and the water jacket seals?