Headbolt OOPS...

[Rudy Brown]

Took the starboard side head off my 90 today to drill and tap a "pee" fitting in the top. All went well until I got to a head bolt on the outside, next to the bottom. It was difficult to remove. The reason was the threads were burgered. Looked at the block, threads were burgered a little so I got a tap and chased them. Got a new head bolt and again all went well until the final torque on that bolt. My manual says 19 ft lbs. 15 went good but 19, my torque wrench clicked on all bolts with just a 1/4 turn except that one. Argh!!!!! Now it didnt strip completely, just wouldnt tighten anymore after 15 ft lbs. Should I heli-coil it, drill it out to the next bigger bolt size, or just wait and see what happens? I could kick myself for not checking the bolts better when I replaced the head gaskets last month. Forgot to add my sig after the change, Its a 84 E90TLCRD.

 

[Nighthawk]

Re: Headbolt OOPS...

I would certainly try the heli-coil first . Those things are life savers.

 

[ezeke]

Re: Headbolt OOPS...

You might want to remove the bolt and make sure that there is not a build-up of junk at the back of the hole. Otherwise, I would leave it.

You might also check to see if it will take a slightly longer bolt.​

 

[Rudy Brown]

Re: Headbolt OOPS...

You might want to remove the bolt and make sure that there is not a build-up of junk at the back of the hole. Otherwise, I would leave it.​

I run a new tap to chase the threads as far as I could, I dont think there was gunk. Just one of them things where I was turning the bolt and that little voice in my head was sayin, "the torque wrench should have clicked by now".

 

[F_R]

Re: Headbolt OOPS...

Heli-coil it!!

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Headbolt OOPS...

I would definitely Helicoil it, the engineers surely felt that they needed all the head bolts and its just not worth the risk or agrevation if it does leak later on.
A Helicoil is cheap insurance.