Stripped Valve Cover Bolts [Merged 5-8]

[NA4g63]

Hey guys, im new to this site but anywho...
Almost all the bolts holding my valve cover down were stripped, i dunno if any of you have this problem but what i did was get a 1/4" 20 thread tap, 6-3/4" 20 thread 1/4" diameter bolts, 8-" 20 thread 1/4" dia. bolts, 14 1/4" dia. washers.
Take the valve cover off and use the tap to make the holes a little larger. be damn careful not to get the little alluminum shavings in the engine.

 

[qwall]

Originally posted by 98RedGs

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Thats them bro.

the one in the yellow are for the spark plug cover, they're smaller size and thread, just so you don't try to jam vc bolts in there

 

[98RedGs]

Originally posted by qwall
the one in the yellow are for the spark plug cover, they're smaller size and thread, just so you don't try to jam vc bolts in there

Thanks for watchin out, I forgot to point em out figured the guy may know exactly which ones those were once he got down to it.

Dam me and my assumptions.

 

[90DSMTurboFWD]

I dont have a torque wrench and the ones on e-bay are allen head bolts. Should I just hand tighten with the wrench as much as I can? Would that be safe?

 

[pkieley]

They don't take very much torque.

Just hand tighten with the short end of the allen key.

You could probably over-torque them with a T-handle even.

Warm her up and re-torque.

 

[90DSMTurboFWD]

right on


I never asked this question

 

[SlowTurboRST]

What should I torque my valve cover bolts to? I've seen reccomendations from two to seven lb/ft. I don't really want to overtighten it and half to buy a new one. TIA

 

[LiquidOC]

tighten them with your fingers until you can't turn them anymore, then turn 'em a half a turn with a socket wrench.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a mechanic, do not take my advice as golden, I am just stating what worked for me.

 

[psychlow]

24-36 INCH-pounds. (2-3 ft-lbs)

7ft-lbs will probably crack your valve cover. I broke my first valve cover at 6 ft-lbs.

 

[girlieracr4g63]

tighten them with your fingers until you can't turn them anymore, then turn 'em a half a turn with a socket wrench.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a mechanic, do not take my advice as golden, I am just stating what worked for me.

Thats what I do on of both mine. Seems to work fine.

 

[flinguist]

This says 2-3 foot pounds.http://www.machv.com/tip8torspec.html

 

[Defiant]

You don't torque them. You get them just barely snug. Be especially careful with the ones on the inner corners, that's where they love to crack. Don't use a wrench, just a nutdriver or screwdriver. Check in a week for seepage, and re-snug.

 

[97Boost4u]

i know this sounds newb... but im so frickin frustrated with these darn bolts that im about to tear the whole thing down. i dunno if theres some pattern ur supposed to follow but some of them wont frickin tighten all the way down. anybody got a way to get em all to snug down???

 

[L2RTSiAWD]

They should not take much to tighten down and DO NOT overtighten them.

If they are not threading the gasket might not be seated properly and so your trying to twist the bolts but they're hitting the gasket and not threading.

 

[98FWDSM]

ok, are these cheap eBay ones or will they work just fine?? They also offer the hex head bolts but i would prefer the allen key head because i think that they look better...but do you think that i will have a hard time tightening/loosening them???

Thanks

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7945453920&category=33627

 

[Defiant]

but do you think that i will have a hard time tightening/loosening them???

Only if you have no thumbs. You might check your local hardware store and see if you can get those screws for less. Oh, and don't use the long lever to tighten them- you can generate enough force to crack a valve cover with the short arm. Unless you have no thumbs.

And my apologies in advance to those among us who may be thumbless

 

[dave99gst]

they will work fine - i got those on my car..they look nice and i think its easyer to just buy those then it is to try to locate SS metric cap screws. ( i dont have any place to get them by me )

 

[steve]

The pretty much look like what I was selling a couple of years back minus the lock washers I included in the kit to keep them from backing off.

Make sure to clean the holes out before installing the new hardware and don't put more than 3 ft lbs torque on the bolts unless you want to buy an new valve cover.

Steve

 

[98FWDSM]

ok, if you saw my last post then you know that i have a leaking valve cover...well, come to find out, i was just looking at things and the center valve cover bolt is stripped and wont even tighten at all...so what are the chances of me leaving the valve cover on and just rethreading the inside of the valve cover, installing the new bolt, tightening it to the correct torque and that possibly solving my problem....do you think that this will work or do i need to just take the valve cover off and redo the gasket???

Thanks

 

[98FWDSM]

ok, i know that some of them are 6 mm X 1.00....are they all the same or no??? 98 FWD GST

Thanks

 

[steve]

They are the same diameter, the lengths are different.

Steve

 

[Tsi_User]

Valve cover bolts? I'm looking for a place that sells stock sets online, between changing my valve cover and gasked etc... I managed to loose about 4 of them Any links would be greatly appreciated.

 

[drk mrk iv]

I just went to my dealership. I think they were around 70 cents a peice. Which isn't too bad.

 

[project94tsi]

take one of the originals into napa they can match them up pretty good, i got 20 for like $8

 

[V8HAHA]

A lot of the dsm vendors sell ss bolts that look real nice for pretty cheap.

 

[Tsi_User]

the thing is though (if I remember right) there are 3 different size bolts used to hold down the valve cover and I'm not sure if I have all 3 sizes. That's why I was looking for a pre-made set online