[ohboy321]

Today I replaced a broken rocker arm stud. I first attempted the job with the head still installed, but ended up pulling the head off yesterday. I first tried cutting new threads and using stacked washers to pull it out, but the threads gave out before it started moving. While still in the truck, I then tried welding a stud on top of the broken one to use for pulling it, but wasn’t able to get a good weld, mainly because of the location and my inexperience with welding. Welding in an assembled motor is scary, so I pulled the head, removed all the valves, and then was able to get a good enough weld to pull the broken stud. I tapped the hole, threaded in a new stud, reinstalled all the valves, and will start putting the motor back together tomorrow.

This is the second stud that broke after installing a mild lift cam (.454/.454) last year, and based on the location of the break on both, which was just at the base of the threads, it looks like the slots in the stock rocker arms were not long enough causing this issue. I now have new rocker arms with longer slots and should know if I solved the issue soon. Pictures are the first stud that brok and the second one I pulled today.