evergreen0077

iTrader: (3)

so.... i stripped the back passenger side rocker arm bolt hole this morning, i am planning on getting it heli-coiled hopefully with the head still on. should i still pull the head off to get any little metal shavings that fell down through the hole out of there or do you think it will be alright without pulling the head?? they are PRC ported LS6 heads.

vettenuts

iTrader: (4)

If its the intake side, pulling the intake should allow you to get at the metal chips. You could also feed a small hose into the spark plug hole and attach it to a vacuum to clean out the cylinder as well.

evergreen0077

iTrader: (3)

is it going to cause problems if i miss a small piece or two??

The Alchemist

iTrader: (19)

YES... metal shavings in your combustion chamber is a really, really bad thing.

I had the same thing happen on the driver's side rear, and I decided to pull the head and have it helicoiled by a machine shop. Here's my cost breakdown:

Helicoil cost from machine shop: $25
New head bolts: $25
New head gasket: $25
Antifreeze: $3

Cost of having it done right: PRICELESS!

Granted, it wasn't my daily driver, and I was able to do the work myself, but for less than $100, I knew it was done right and had no worries. I'm going to do it again and have all of the exahust manifold bolt holes done this time since I've got two stripped holes in the head that aren't holding well. To me, its money well spent compared to the possible problems that could occur if not done properly.

Something you need to think about is making certain that the bolt angle stays perfect. If you don't tap the hole correctly, and it goes in at an angle, you may be up a creek with that rocker arm and valve stem. Since the rocker bolt is all the way in the back, you're not going to have a lot of room to work. I'd rather have a machine shop put the head in a jig, and make sure it gets tapped and helicoiled perfectly straight and true and know it's done right.

evergreen0077

iTrader: (3)

does any one happen to know what heli-coil size i need

trucksleeper

If I was you I would just pull the head and re-tap it. Thats what I did to mine.

evergreen0077

iTrader: (3)

what do you guys think about reusing my head gasket with only having about 1000 miles on it? what about the head bolts??

Brains

iTrader: (7)

Hmm. I helicoiled one for a friend, with the head on the car. I just greased up the tap, and paid attention to what I was doing, and cleaned everything up afterwards. No problems at all.

You need an M8 1.25 helicoil kit, can't remember the drill bit size though (its marked on the package).

white2001s10

iTrader: (4)

No, they are only aluminum flakes and extremely unlikely to hurt anything.
I would re-tap with it on the car.

The Alchemist

iTrader: (19)

You don't think him getting aluminum flakes into his oil or combustion chamber is a problem??? Honestly, I would be more concerned about the geometry of the bolt angle considering the limited amount of work space at the back of the head.

If you want to try it, go ahead, but sometimes shortcuts can create more work in the end.

white2001s10

iTrader: (4)

Oh hell no, I'm not.
Sand yes, aluminum no.

evergreen0077

iTrader: (3)

any other advice?? i may end up pulling the head anyways unless i want to try the heli-coil myself. im having problems finding someone to come to my house and do it.

eallanboggs

iTrader: (1)

Here is another example of why people who don't have sufficient experience turning wrenches should NOT use the spring tools that leverage the aluminum head to compress the springs. Better to use a tool that directly compresses the spring itself for the guys who don't walk around with grease under their fingernails all the time. Not breaking a rocker bolt or stripping the aluminum head bolts threads means never having to say: "Damn, I must be the best heli-coil installer this side of the Mississippi". Who wants to be know as a heli-coil expert? That's oxymoronic!

Brains

iTrader: (7)

Wausau is quite a ways from ... well... everything...

Armageddon

iTrader: (41)

wausau! I got family there. How does the saying go? Where the men are men and the women are too!

I coiled a rockerarm hole before... ending up getting yanked back out... It was a pain but It worked eventually... did it on the car also.

John_D.

iTrader: (2)

I heli-coiled one a couple of years ago. Didn't realize at the time, just caught it a couple of weeks ago on a rebuild, that the hole was not straight down. Caused the rocker arm to be out of position a bit.

Did it again last weekend, but had to go to a larger ez-lock insert. Got the hole straight this time...