I have trick flow heads and I think I may have slightly stripped a header bolt hole. Im really not sure how it happened because I started every single bolt by hand of course. The bolt will thread all the way in but you need a wrench to get it tight. I thread the bolt in as far as I could about 5 full turns and then it just stops. A small amount of aluminum threads came out with the bolt when I took it out Basically I need to know if theres anything I need to do. If the bolt threads all the way in with the help of a wrench and snugs up tight is there any problem? Is there anything I can do to to clean up the threads? How did I strip starting it by hand? Thanks for the help.

 

sounds like the head may not be tapped deep enough for your bolts. you may have bottomed the bolt in the hole. grind it down, have a nut, on it before grinding our use a thread file after ward to clean up the bolt threads. you could chase the head threads with a tap, but if out was just a little bit of metal don't worry.

 

I would notch out a couple of sections out of the bolt, lube it, and run it back in the hole to clean/re-tap the threads.

 

The previous owner did this to my drivers side front header bolt (cylinder #1?). When I put on my headers I was worried that the new bolt wouldn't hold, but so far so good.

 

Do you mean like grind part of the threads like when I cleaned the head bolt holes? What would I lube it with? Should I chase it with a tap?

 

Essentially you are making a tap with the bolt. If you cut about 2-3 flutes going up about 6-8 threads it will give debris somewhere to go and create a sharp edge for the bolt to clean and straighten the threads in the head out. The problem with most taps is they are for through holes, not blind holes so they wont work in such a short threaded hole.

 

take a paper clip or a small piece of wire and stick it in the bolt hole and note how deep it goes in compared to the length of your bolt, this should give you an idea where your problem is in the hole. also they make what is called a PLUG TAP that threads all the way to the end with no taper.

 

Ok great thanks for the help guys. 01ssreda4 what kind of lube were you talkin about? I'm also considering arp header studs. Anyone have any opinions on these?

 

I usually just a little gear oil or motor oil. Great all purpose lubricant.

 

Ok looks like everything is good to go!! I rented a chase from O'Reillys. Header bolt hole threads are M8 X 1.25 just fyi. Thanks for the help guys.