So I'm rebuilding my 87 302 and some of the water pump and timing cover bolts are broken. The weird stud like bolts are the broken ones. What attaches to the the front of the studs? Can I just use local hardware store bolts instead of this hard to find studs?

 

Dorman sells a kit of 3 or 4 bolts that has the different longer length water pump bolts.

 

Usually the studs are to mount accessory brackets.

 

You tell us what attaches to them, you're the one that took it apart! As Chris said, its typically to mount accessories. If you took it apart and nothing actually attached to them, then yes you could technically use hardware store bolts to put it back together. I'd go with Grade 8