I was able to get the cases cleaned up last night and wanted to get main studs installed to get ready to check main bearing clearances. I took some tips from Mike Rieck and installed as follows:
1. Long end in the case - This made sense to me since there is no need for all that thread up top when the nut is thinner than even the shorter threaded end
2. Drop of red loctite and thread into the case with a stud installation tool (highly recommended vs the double nut method)
3. He mentions just a light tweak on them to get good thread engagement, but being as particular as I am, I chose a light torque figure (30 in-lbs) as the torque I would set them at
4. Once installed I added the other case half, some assembly lube on the threads and torqued to 17 ft-lbs and let them set up in that configuration before pulling it back apart
I did notice the center studs had no extra thread sticking out of the nuts while others had some. All shorter threads were within about 1mm of each other regarding installed length.
I have never done this before but it all made sense at the time. All sound good?