Hi finished rebuilding my lads engine, New crankshaft, piston, head and more. Before this work I had snapped the exhaust stud so drilled it out but ended up damaging the thread. Having now replaced the head I have nice new holes. The question is whether to use exhaust studs and nuts or exhaust bolts on the new one? Anyone know if one is better than the other?
I always use new exhaust studs, even if they are not already snapped. The reason being that, even though they look ok, due to the hot and cold nature of the engine, they can get brittle and snap after you've done all the hard work. Then you have to go through the rigmarole of fetching it all off again just to replace a broken stud. For the miniscule cost of a couple of studs, replace them with new. And nuts as well.
Hmmm ive always wondered why studs are preferable to bolts... Something to do with tensile strength i assume but have no real idea...
years ago they used studs on exhausts but fitted brass nuts saved all that rusting between stud and nut
Ease of assembly makes sense as you can line up exhaust flange holes easily even at odd angles. Ill probably stick with studs then.
Always use studs. That way you can hang the exhaust flange on them and fit the nuts. With using a bolt you are risking cross threading the hole unless you can see and access it easily.