killerx said:
That's what I was thinking, but following Beachcomber's threads had me wondering why he would miss something like that.
I think Doc Rot had the same query when he modified the ARP studs [ virtually the same as the RAM studs ]. However, logic will tell us that at the base of the studs ..... is the crankcase mouth and any oil so drained has nowhere to go.
The attached pic illustrates that point. Additionally note [ same pic ] the oil seal [ front and centre ] in the top of the c/case where returning oil DOES flow.
It could be argued that oil in the rear stud chambers would get seriously hot - aggravating the possibility of a head gasket failure. Of course our front studs are open to the elements .... that would make one serious oil leak !!
In over 50 years of building hi-po V8 race and 4 [ and 2 ] cylinder supercharged engines - the first step with a prepped bare block is TO REPLACE ALL THE STUDS AND FIXINGS WITH HIGH GRADE UNITS. AND TO REPLACE BOLTS WITH STUDS. This is not my idea - but 1000's of talented engine builders that came before me.
Ask ANY builder of a Hi-Po / supercharged engine [ bike or car ] what is one of the risks they want to avert at all costs ? Head gasket failure. What would be a mild irritation with a street engine - could be catastrophic engine destruction when under race conditions.
I'm new to our KZ750 twins, but I keep hearing about "head gasket failures". Some put this down to poor product, however I'd be looking at the integrity of the stud fixings. Take a look at the corroded and SNAPPED studs in previous pix. Studs will stretch anyway - but after 40 odd years of service ?
I'd be interested to know what position the majority of these gasket failures occur.
I have now sold the last of the first batch and have had an enquiry for a bulk order, before doing that I'll get the manufacturer to measure a selection of OEM studs from old engines to confirm any stretching. We can see visually the degradation of the front studs - serious corrosion / broken. And when they strength tested the new RAM studs against OEM - the OEM units came a VERY poor second. In fact they failed at 55% of the loading on the RAM studs !!
Oh, BTW - the engine in the pix was purchased as is ready for strip down and blueprinting !!!
The new RAM studs were temporarily fitted as P.O.C.