stripped thread help

[CzarFC]

Why should anything go right today I ask myself as I strip out aluminum threads from the block.

I just re-installed my passenger's side head on my 560SEL. After torquing all my 8mm bolts I was installing the three 6mm bolts which are forward of the timing chain. One is internal to the engine, the other two are external. The long one (the one on the top) stripped out.

My question is what do I do? Do I:
a) remove the head and time-sert the hole and try again
b) drill it all out and use some sort of insert
c) FIDO - Fudge It, Drive On.
d) something else?

Also if I pull the head again, do I need to get a freash gasket to replace the new one I just put on?


Thanks in advance!


Scott

[stevebfl]

Real hard to tell without seeing it.

I would try and install an insert from the current position if possible. If removing the head is the answer, I might do it at my leisure. The bolts in question only seal the timing cover from oil leakage. It is conceivable it won't leak and if it does the head doesn't get any harder to do with time. A new gasket should be used. This is all based on it being your problem and your decision. Selling it in such a condition would be fraud in my eyes, so it always is something that will be there, until it is fixed.

[dmorrison]

Stripped out a drilled/taped hole in my sons alluminum transmission.
To fix it I got a Helicoil

With the helicoil, you will drill out the hole with their drill and tap it with their tap. Then insert the helicoil and install the bolt.

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/toolsplus/hel-threading-tools-helicoils.html

http://www.emhart.com/products/helicoil.html


You should use a new gasket. When you torgue the head you partially crush the gasket. So pullling the head and using the old gasket sort of sets you up for a leak.

With my sons 65 mustang I had to pull the left head 3 times in one month. Gasket leak problem twice dropped valve once. Boy what a pain getting that straightened out.

Dave

[CzarFC]

Well, heres more of the story to answer some questions. I just had the heads done. I purchased the car in July and have no intentions of selling it. I'm hoping to find a fix that does not involve pulling the head again as that is such a joy to do solo, especially since I have the cam towers and cam installed already.

If anyone knows a way to do this without pulling the head I'm all ears otherwise I suppose I'll be ordering a thread repair kit and head gasket this week and I know what I'll be doing next weekend.

Thanks for the advice!


Scott

[samiam4]

If your careful- you can do it in-place.

When tapping for the heli-coil or timesert, use grease to retain the chips. After it starts, I'd go forward 1/2 turn then backward to break the chips. Remove the tap a few times to clean the grease/chips. Not hard, just not a place to make mistakes.

Yes, new headgasket and measure the headbolts. They are stretch bolts and are generally only reused once.


Michael

[CzarFC]

Thanks for the heads-up sam!

I went back out to the garage and did some looking and my fingers (with dental tool) saw something I didn't make out at first with my eyes due to the light (hard to get light down a 3 inch hole where I can still see) anyway, what I felt, then saw was about a 1mm radius difference between the blind hole in the block and the channel though the head. It looks to me as if I can do this in-situ perhaps scarring the channel with the new tap, but nothing which would cause permanent harm. I'll get the kit and if it doesn't fit through the channel, then I'll pull the head and order a new set of bolts & gasket. (I'd just like to avoid the hasstle!)

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it alot!

Scott

[gerryvz]

This SAME exact thing happened to me with the same bolt even ! This thread really saved my bacon. Thanks for documenting your fix.

Cheers,
Gerry