David, Replacing the head studs is an exercise that should only be taken if the studs are useless. I understand that they are very difficult to extract successfully. The corrosion is due to the coolant adhering to the studs rather than the disintegration of the steel rod. Clean the studs and make sure that your coolant is refreshed often.
As to the valves hitting the pistons, that could be from either the chain stretching or the intake cam wasn't correctly timed. Pretty rare that the double width cam chain will stretch. If you are rebuilding the head and suspect the valves (I do), just replace them - cheap insurance. I'd think that Alfa paint code 501 would be the one you need. There might be a paint label on the inside of the trunk lid. Bruce > I am in the process of rebuilding my 69 spider and had a few questions: > > 1- Any recommendation of a place in San Francisco bay area to have the > engine crank worked on. > 2- Do you guys recommend replacing the head studs on this engine. I > removed the head about 2 years ago. It was one of the hardest thing that > I > had done as the head was seized to the stud due to the corrosion. I have > replacement studs but I suspect removing the existing studs will be rather > difficult and there is risk of breaking them. > 3- The top of pistons (all four; number 1 being worst , number 4 being > the best) on the intake side shows marks of what appears to be valves > hitting pistons. Could this be due to timing chain wear/stretching. The > engine was running OK with good compression before the tear down. I had > the > head result 2 years back and the shop did not replace the valves and did > not > mention that valves were damaged. The head is in storage and I have not > examined it (will do so when I retrieve it). Was wondering if you guys > have seen this and could the valves survive something like this. > 4- I am repainting the car (originally red). Was wondering if some > one > has the Alfa color code for that vintage Alfa. Debating whether to change > the color! > 5- Any advice outside of the above questions would also be appreciate. > > Thanks, David -- to be removed from alfa, see http://www.digest.net/bin/digest-subs.cgi or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected]
