I got everything mocked up last night, I cleaned all threads, instakked the studs, and made sure the girdle was installed according to Hughes specs. After I got the block back from the machine shot from being honed with a torque plate I did find 3 of the shors head studs were removed with a DAMN VISE GRIP!! garred up the studs pretty badly, and accually dug into the thread of the studs. Why use a vise grip when there is a place for an allen wrench on the top, is beyond me. Should I replace the damaged studs, or run them, Im sure they are find, but the stress risors do concern me a bit.

All in all the Girdle went on pretty good. I ended up useing .263 thick spacers, and only had to clean casting numbers off 3 main caps. Should I have a machinist friend of mine make me 8 one piece hardened spacers and not use the 3 spacers I used out of the kit?

Thanks Guys

Kasey

I used the shims that came from Hughes and have had no problems, I followed the instructions and torqued everything to their specs..Matt

I am just worried about one of the hard spacers cracking, or a thin spacer getting squished out and causing a stud to come lose.

I tend to stress about things too much, I sure everything will be fine.

What do you guys think about the messed up studs. They are the short ones so that should be better than a long one distorting and working on the galled area.

kasey

What do you guys think about the messed up studs. They are the short ones so that should be better than a long one distorting and working on the galled area.

kasey

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I wouldnt worry to much about it... but you will know
when you torque it down but I'm sure it'll be fine

Mr P you are probably right, Im sure the torque wrench wont click off and act like its stretching, or pulling out.

thanks

Well I used a brown roll lock pad, and cleaned them up. They should be ok now.