SilverHoss99

I am just curious got a friend who works on turboed foreign cars they just remove stock blots and slide studs down in a finger tighten them. I believe Cummins is a different animal but I don’t know. I want to put a #0 plate my 98 12valve the tranny is there to back it up got gauges ready to install but now I’m worried about the HG. So any info would be great.

cumminsdriver635

You wont kill your head gasket with a #0 plate. These head gaskets are pretty tough. I have been running 40psi for a while now without a problem. But yes, you can put the studs in like that. Its best to take the head off, install a new gasket, and bottom tap the block threads before installing them, but they can be done as you mentioned.

Eric

Muddin_dude06

Well if you want to do it 100% right run a bottoming tap down it so the threads are as deep as possible and to clean the threads that are already there. Run the stud into the block with a little oil on the bottom of the stud to keep the threads in the block lubed a tad bit, use an allen head to run them all th way until they bottom out and then back them 1/2 turn out.

It is a royal p.i.t.a. to put them in and bottom tap with the head on and everything in the truck, but for the extra insurance you will have it is worth it. Also when doing everything do it on a dead cold engine and it couldn't hurt to drain out some of the coolant.

Just my .02

Ronco95

You can do it. I had to pull the six head studs that run thru the rocker pedestals and shorten them to fit the valve covers. You need to located the the large holes under the cowl to remove the old bolts and install the studs.

Ronnie