Dylan Latshaw

When installing my headers onto my new to me heads on my ls1 3 of the bolts spin, 2 are cross threaded and 1 won't even catch thread. How do I fix this?? I don't want to take out the heads I just finished putting on... Can I either tap (without drilling) a bigger sized bolt? If so what is the next size up from a 8MM x 1.25 bolt? Or I've heard if you bend strands of copper wire in the hole it'll help catch the threads. I really don't want to take the heads back off. Please help.

Fuhnortoner

Timesert

Dylan Latshaw

I mentioned twice I really don't want to remove the heads to fix it

Fuhnortoner

Why do you have to remove your heads? Do you know what a timesert is?

8.Lug

Dylan Latshaw

there is no room to drill out the holes. Im not very familiar with them.

Dylan Latshaw

had a buddy do the headers while I bolt down the heads

Dylan Latshaw

Can't I just get a few bolts in a slightly bigger size. And tap the holes to fit though bolts?

Fuhnortoner

No. Thats ******* stupid, and so is putting strands of copper wire in the stripped out holes. Fix it right, nobody on this forum is going to tell you to do it half ***.

Dylan Latshaw

How is fixing it the right way by tapping slightly bigger holes and using the right size bolt stupid? Im cunfused....

Fuhnortoner

First of all you made it sound like you wanted to just jam larger bolts into it. Second of all, if youre going to tap it you may as well do it right and use a timesert.

Dylan Latshaw

I would rather spend 5 bucks on a few m10x1.50 bolts then 70 on a timesert kit. I just want to know if it's be ok to drill out the holes and tap with that size tap? New threads and a new bolt will work, no?

cam

iTrader: (9)

If your so impatient that your cross threading header bolts in my guess is the least of your worries is the header bolt holes. Take your time, do it right, do it once. The pain of poor quality lingers far longer than the time or money it costs to produce good work

Fuhnortoner

Just JB Weld the header on. Problem solved. Why spend 5 bucks on a M10 tap when you can spend 4 bucks on JB Weld?

Dylan Latshaw

I wasn't the one to put the headers back on. I mentioned that before. All I want to know is if it's ok to tap a m10 tap in

Dylan Latshaw

plus to my knowledge they were already cross threaded

cam

iTrader: (9)

<br /><br />Might want to figure out what else has been wrenched on then. I know you want an easy answer to a bugger of a problem but there really isnt one. Heads come off easy, and fast, gaskets if MLS can be reused and some say bolts too. I replace both for low cost and fast Summit ship. All I can say is if it were my car? I'd peel the heads both off, check valves and seats, replace seals and springs and go from there but thats how I do things. I was young and impatient once too and spent at least one full night out in the middle of the bush freezing my nads off trying to get my sled back together after I tried the quick repair route. Sooner or later we all learn quick cheap repairs usually aint good and good repairs usually aint quick, or cheap.<br />

ddnspider

iTrader: (26)

Why is everyone being a dick to OP? He said he wasn't the one who caused the problem and was simply asking about a potential solution. Geez......OP if you have some that are cross threaded have you tried tapping them with the right size tap to see if it'll fix it?

ddnspider

iTrader: (26)

There's more than 1 way to skin a cat. Pulling the heads and putting in a timesert isn't the ONLY solution.

cam

iTrader: (9)

Maybe not, but it is the best solution. Once the heads are off the header bolt threads can be assessed properly and repaired as needed. Suggesting to someone whos struggling with cross threaded bolts that there is an awkward in car fix sounds more like a recipe for more trouble, even garbage heads possibly. I'm trying to save the guy difficulty and get him sorted out properly. Running a tap through blind sounds a mess and not anything I would do.

Maybe a thread chaser, but not a tap but OP if you try a thread chaser be sure to get a good quality one ARP etc. Chasing threads especially when crossed is a tad tricky