Right when I started to see an end to this rebuild--this happens. I was "practicing" droping the intake down straight on the block w/o RTV, when I decided to screw in the left front bolt. I started it by hand and cranked on it a couple of times with the socket. Then, it got tight all the sudden and I realized it was cross-threading (must not have had the intake aligned correctly). Of course, it won't screw in now . How do I fix this?? Would a thread chaser work? Hopefully I won't have to helicoil it, never done that before.... Thanks

 

If you have enough good threads to start with, a chase should work. A Helicoil or insert is not so bad (actually stronger). At least it is in a place where you can get to it.