Resolved 4G63 Valve cover bolts?

[clutch-burner]

Ok I used the search and couldn't find my answer. I changed my valve cover gasket on my 1990 Eagle Talon TSi because it was leaking and found there were a few of the outer perimeter bolts stripped out.

My question is is there a special fix for this or do I need to just heli-coil them? Any idea on what size heli-coil these take? (I could look it up but if someone knows the thread size offhand that helps)

I noticed when I removed the outer perimeter bolts I had a few longer than others, are they supposed to all be the same length and I had some backyard mechanic throw some bolts in to work? Or are they varied in length depending on placement?

Any input is appreciated...
Thanks in advance

 

[bryanwheat]

The outside bolts should all be the same length and the inner bolts should all be shorter. As for a fixing the problem. You can go with a 7mm bolt and tap the hole to a 7mm , or you can just get the 6x1.0 helicoil kit and redo the holes.

 

[clutch-burner]

bryanwheat hey thanks for the info. So there is no issue just tapping the holes to 7mm? Will I need to drill the valvecover bolt holes bigger? I only have 2 that are stripped so I may go the heli-coil route ....6x1.0 heli-coil kit....Got it
thanks for the help

 

[Delta2Echo]

I had the same problem with one of my bolts in the corner. What we did was use an M6x1 bolt that was about a quarter of an inch longer. The threads go down further than the stock bolts. It was able to go passed where the threads were stripped and bite on the good threads that were lower.

Just be very careful not to cross thread! That's probably why they were stripped in the first place.

 

[007jimmy]

I had the same problem with one of my bolts in the corner. What we did was use an M6x1 bolt that was about a quarter of an inch longer. The threads go down further than the stock bolts. It was able to go passed where the threads were stripped and bite on the good threads that were lower.

Just be very careful not to cross thread! That's probably why they were stripped in the first place.

This^^^... I have done the same thing 3 times already. Works great!!

 

[clutch-burner]

Thanks guys.....longer bolt trick fixed it. I ran a bottoming tap into all the holes to make sure everything went in straight and true and the stripped holes with the longer bolts tightened right up! Worked perfect