Cam cap stripped bolt hole

[xandrew245x]

I know this is a very common problem but I can't find an answer to my exact question. I am going to drill it out and fix it with a helicoil the problem is I'm not sure how to remove the alignment dowel without damaging it. I got ahold of it with a pair of small pliers but it's really tight and won't budge. Any auggestions?

 

[Vegas Smith]

I have the same problem.

 

[steve]

I'd try heating the head while pulling on the alignment dowel. Propane torch should be enough heat.

 

[Dstarperformance01]

Have you tried to soak it with any form of penatration lube? You might have to use channel locks or even a small pipe wrench. When you grab the dowel try twisting while pulling out. Hope this helps.

 

[xandrew245x]

I'm afraid of squeezing it to hard and warping it out of round and ruining the dowel. I tried heat with no luck. I'm going to keep trying.

 

[Mello]

When trying the heat trick, point it at the alum of the head & try to shield the heat from the pin. The alum should change size more than the steel of the pin.

 

[xandrew245x]

Got it out, drilled tapped and installed the helicoil, was tightening the bolt in and the bolt broke off, I literally can not catch a break.

 

[steve]

Wow, the cam caps only get 15 ft lbs of torque, how did it break off?

 

[xandrew245x]

The bolt got really snug before it was even the whole way in so I kept tightening it and it broke off.

 

[xandrew245x]

I'm pretty certain what happened was the tang of the helicoil wasn't completely broken off and the bolt hit it and was trying to thread the helicoil further which put to much stress on the bolt.

 

[vaughn scherf]

You should be able to heat the head with a torch and pull it out