I took the head off my car last night because the header bolt on the front of the #4 primary wouldnt take up. I get the head off, with the header still in the engine bay. So , I decide to run a tap into it and chase the threads. Upon doing this, it solved the problem, totally.

My question to you guys, is this. Should I go ahead and Helicoil it, or, since it is working, leave it alone??

 

TTT

 

If you chased it out and the threads appear fine, I would leave it. Does it grab well? Maybe you could do a sample torque down on it while its out and see how she holds up. If it doesn't then you can then heli coil it.

 

S.J.S.
when I tapped it, it took up fine man, actually really good. I think I may be ok with it. I actually torqued it down real hard with a wrench and it didnt even try to slip out on me.
Alot of times I know, better safe than sorry, but I think this one will be ok without a heli-coil. You think so too?

I am just looking for an opinion to see if I am the onlyone who feels it will work.

I picked the head up y the bolt to see if it would hold. If that gives any reference as to how it holds.

 

Thats fine...I know how it is. I just rebuilt my first motor and stroked it. I'm constantly looking for people just to say "its fine" so I stop worrying. From what you told me, that it torqued fine. I would definately throw it back on with out hesitation.

 

If you're heads aren't P&P, pull the other side and have it done. You're 1/2 way there! I had to throw that out there since no one else has done it yet...

 

Thanks man.
I know how it is with building things. I have a friend who is a master mechanic stop in every time I touch the internals of the motor. He usually is there anyways most of the time.

Funny, it is only my stuff I worry about. I build/tune lots of lt1/sbc combos and never worry a bit. Never have anyhting come back becaus eof fault. bu I always want my stuff checked over. Tooeasy to get distracted on our own stuff by something simple and destroy a bottom end when it fires up.


Thanks again man.

 

Good one. I wouldn't do it yourself though unless you got a spare 50 hours laying around and your car is gonna be hung up for a month. Not to mention the studying and tools. Ask me how I know.

 

Cant swingit right now financially, Christmas, and mortgages are too important.

I can always pull the head in 3 hrs anyway. IMO they will come off in Feb. for the afforementioned job.

 

Lloyd Elliott would be the one I would send them to. Plus, I have a set of bare castings in the garage for that.