Stripped head bolt hole

jrwca · May 19, 2024

Need some advice...

I am in the middle of replacing my head gaskets and one of my head bolts stripped out the threads. It's the driver's side by the firewall. I was on the final step of the torque procedure (it was the second to last bolt) and it stripped as soon as I started to move it.

Now I need to repair the threads. I am thinking about a time sert, but I don't have a way to get a drill in there since it's up against the firewall.

Has anyone successfully repaired one of these with the engine in place? How did you do it?

Trey Hardy · May 19, 2024

jrwca said:
Need some advice...

I am in the middle of replacing my head gaskets and one of my head bolts stripped out the threads. It's the driver's side by the firewall. I was on the final step of the torque procedure (it was the second to last bolt) and it stripped as soon as I started to move it.

Now I need to repair the threads. I am thinking about a time sert, but I don't have a way to get a drill in there since it's up against the firewall.

Has anyone successfully repaired one of these with the engine in place? How did you do it?

I did this in my Silverado with the time sert kit
I refused to pull the motor and actually ended up drilling it with a ratchet as that was all I could fit in there. It was nerve wracking but it’s definitely manageable and was honestly very easy the plate time sert gives you makes it foolproof.

I will say I recommend doing all the holes on that side so when you go to put it back together you don’t have another strip out causing you to pull that head again

Trey Hardy · May 19, 2024

jrwca said:
Need some advice...

I am in the middle of replacing my head gaskets and one of my head bolts stripped out the threads. It's the driver's side by the firewall. I was on the final step of the torque procedure (it was the second to last bolt) and it stripped as soon as I started to move it.

Now I need to repair the threads. I am thinking about a time sert, but I don't have a way to get a drill in there since it's up against the firewall.

Has anyone successfully repaired one of these with the engine in place? How did you do it?

I’ll let you rent mine if you ain’t trying to spend 800-1000$ on a kit for yourself…
Sadly it’s one of those kits you have to have to do the job but won’t use but one time and it’ll sit on the shelf so maybe we can save ourselves some money here if your interested just PM me

Geotrash · May 19, 2024

jrwca said:
Need some advice...

I am in the middle of replacing my head gaskets and one of my head bolts stripped out the threads. It's the driver's side by the firewall. I was on the final step of the torque procedure (it was the second to last bolt) and it stripped as soon as I started to move it.

Now I need to repair the threads. I am thinking about a time sert, but I don't have a way to get a drill in there since it's up against the firewall.

Has anyone successfully repaired one of these with the engine in place? How did you do it?

One other thing to consider is to go with ARP head bolts when you put it back together. They are straight torque and not torque-to-yield.

jrwca · May 19, 2024

I refused to pull the motor and actually ended up drilling it with a ratchet as that was all I could fit in there.

So you were able to get the back bolts next to the firewall with a ratchet?

That's what I needed to know!

petethepug · May 19, 2024

Don’t they make extensions that go in the chuck to allow an extension, hand held chuck to connect?

gooffeyguy · May 19, 2024

Right angle drill or drill adapter?

jrwca · May 19, 2024

gooffeyguy said:
Right angle drill or drill adapter?

I'll have to check that out to see if I can make it work

strutaeng · May 19, 2024

I was also wondering if the right angle drills would be of any help. Like the slower RPM used by electricians/plumbers for drilling holes between studs. They are high torque/low rpm.

What kind of head bolts were you using? Did you clean the bolt holes?

I took a few old head bolts and cut some slots with an angle grinder with a thin cut off disc. I use them as a poornan's head bolt hole thread chaser.

Good luck.

j91z28d1 · May 19, 2024

I have read to make sure you blow the hole out, if not it can strip the bolt. but I don't know.

if it was my daily, I'd run a heli coil in it and call it a day.

Stripped head bolt hole

jrwca

TYF Newbie

Trey Hardy

8” fabtech icon coilovers uniballs 24x14on35/15.50

Trey Hardy

8” fabtech icon coilovers uniballs 24x14on35/15.50

Geotrash

Dave

jrwca

TYF Newbie

petethepug

Michael

gooffeyguy

Tom

jrwca

TYF Newbie

strutaeng

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j91z28d1

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