9 stud vs 11

[kenb]

Hi,

Finally get round to moving last winter's project forward to get a car out competing before the end of year...

Took a bit of a chance and bought unseen an engine and gearbox with some competition history way back before xmas and now am finally getting ready to get it installed and realise i'd missed that it is only a 9 stud head - is this anything to really worry about as am not looking for the ultimate fire breathing monster?

thanks

ken

[66S]

Hi Ken,
Most would say the extra two holes make little difference but they are easy enough to drill in a drill press. I use another 11 stud head as a guide to start the holes and then remove the 11 stud head and drill the 9 stud head in a drill press.

Regards
Al

[JC T ONE]

Make sure, to mesure up the depth of the hole, for the small bolt in the front, when you drill the block.

Otherwise you drill into the water chamber.

[carbon]

The 11-stud blocks I have seen have all had the small hole drilled right through to the waterway. Also think that several had helicoils fitted, but I don't know if this was from the factory or fitted later. I have also had at least 2 blocks where previous owners had sheared off the small bolt, so go careful when torquing down as the small bolt has a much lower setting.