Well doing my lt install and got all the bolts in with ease till i got to the last one so i tightened up the rest of the bolts so it would make the header sit flush against the head and it would hopefully thread in. Unfortunatly it would not thread in. Took me a bugger or a time to get them all in to find out that i probubly cross threaded the last thread. Can i do without the one bolt and hopefully not have a leak? Its the bolt on the 3rd primary tube so its got clamp force down on each side of the one missing. Would be a bitch to have to yank out the header after getting this far into it.

 

There's no reason you shouldn't be able to run a tap through it. I stripped two of mine on the car and tapped them with no problems.

 

Im going to buy a thread tapping set tomorrow morning and hopefully i can fix it and not have to pull the header off. Might be tricky its awkward to get at on the 3rd primary tube.

 

Well problem solved... bought a tap set and got it fixed and feel way way better about it! Going to re-tap all the threads on the other side before i put the header in for re assurance.

 

wouldnt studs be better after you get the holes cleaned out..

 

Yeah studs for questionable holes (actually I have studs on all of them) and don't run a tap in there, use a thread chaser. The tap will likely take out metal and your threaded holes will be looser and more likely to strip at some point. A thread chaser gets the gunk out of the threads but doesnt have any cutting action.

 

yep im a too&die maker.. was just adding to the thread (sarcasm )...

i have to get a broken bolt out of one of my heads and i'm contemplating just going ahead and putting thread inserts in while i'm at at so i dont have any trouble with the threads later on..

 

use the edit button then delete your own post.

 

It was only the first thread or two that was damaged. I will keep an eye on it and make sure and if i have to put a stud in place i will.

Thanks!

 

NEVER tighten any bolts before you start all of them. Don't know why more people don't drill these header bolt holes out, one or two bit sizes before they install them. It's so much easier then fixing cross threaded holes.

 

As Z28SORR wrote ... good advice:
Also, if the header has separate mounting flanges (ie MAC), hold the header gasket up to them to be sure that the shipping agent didn't "adjust" the spacing for you! Check and adjust any warpage with a straight edge or long level on the flange face too.