Hey everyone !!

Say i want to remove 2-3 of my head studs on my engine. They are bent from the person who put the extractors on (the engine i have just bought) I was just wondereding how to go about it all? I haven't attempted to get them out yet but any suggestions on how to tackle this?? I was just going to take to them with a Vice grip or something (don't cringe..) If i am WAY OFF in my approach or any suggestions, nicely appreciated.

Cheers!

You had me scared there for a moment. I thought you actually wanted to remove some of the head bolts not the studs that hold on the intake and exhaust manifolds.
Anyhoo, to your question, I have always used the double nut trick. What you do is take two nuts that thread on to the studs and, well, thread them onto a stud, duh. Tighten them against each other. Turn the one closer to the head away from the head and the one further from the head toward the head. Make sense?
Then put your wrench, or spanner if you like, on the nut closest to the head and turn the whole shebang out.
If you don't have two wrenches of the same size (usually 12mm on intake and exhaust nuts) I have also found that the nuts Nissan used have a 12mm head whereas the ones I buy at the hardware store have 13mm. One of each and youre set. Of course, you could just go out and buy a stud extractor. But what fun would that be?

Tim's idea sounds better ... but since the extractor studs are bent, vice-grips will work too. The downside is vice-grips will ruin the threads and the studs will have to be replaced.

For the new parts, use a little of that silver paste (non-seize) on the stud threads before you put the nuts on, and you won't have any problem removing the extractor in the future. It works great for the nuts and bolts in the exhaust pipes too, anything that tends to rust.

Agreed. The 2 nut trick works well. I used to work as an exhaust fitter and the 2 nut trick is our best friend!! I would be replacing all the studs just to give the new, clean look to your head. I replaced all mine in about 20mins with no hassles and looks like new. New chrome nuts and washers help to.

Vice grips are a last resort. If vice grips dont work, try welding a nut on the end and use a spanner. You shouldnt need to use this method as the 1200 head is only alloy and should remove quite easily.

Scott
Davo

The studs are bent...so go the vice grips (or a small pipe wrench is good). If the studs dont move easily, give them a lite tap with a hammer first (this will help break the rust between the stud and head) tap it like your a rattle-gun. If this doesn't work, heat the stud with an oxy or porpane torch, this expands the stud, allow it to cool, this (like the hammer) breaks the rust bond. Try not to heat the head if you attempt this.

If you go for the two nut approach, you will find a 12mm and a 13mm nut on your engine mounts....why I don't know but it is the standard setup, I never seem to be able to find a 13mm spanner when I replace mounts (its the only 13mm nut on a datsun I can find).

Hope this helps
Micko