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.

 

[Ho0ked]

Would you be able to get that info for me when you get off work...I need to know which size to get, i have about 4 of them that are bad..###zzz!!!

Silly sedan owner........

The store you buy the helicoils from should have a thread matcher, you don't need me . Not to mention I just moved and am not entirely sure where I burried the left over helicoils and package, I promise any real parts store will have the thread matcher if they have helicoils, Autozone, Advance Auto parts, Napa, etc....

You can do it !

 

[10's or bust]

I would start back where I first begin to have problems, check the lines for the turbo first since it was the last thing changed. Also heard of some turbos need ing a restrictor fitting according to with turbo setup and where u purchased....May just need to have oil pump replaced...hook up a guage and check against fact. recommendations

 

[02HtownSubie]

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I've seach for valve cover bolt helicoil size and was unable to locate. If someone know it offhand please tell me. I will continue doing the search and continue on reading.

 

[gstowner]

On my 2g I used M8. Now is 1g and a 2g different size guys? I thought they were the same?

 

[Defiant]

ColumbusDSM - 2G Turbo FWD Bolt & Fastener Wizard

 

[BlackGSX97]

I am planning on replacing my valve cover Gasket. I have 4 stripped bolts.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

Also why do I have so much boost leaking out of the valve Cover when doing a Boost leak test with the car war(Oil in Turbo) and at the UICP Elbow?

Bad Rings?

Thank you

 

[99gst_racer]

Helicoil the head to fix those stripped bolts: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-miscellaneous/267280-how-use-helicoil.html

 

[noonan98turbo]

Well I took off my valve cover today to change out the gasket as is was leaking oil from my vc. After I put on a new gasket, I was tightening the bolts when I heard a popping noise. This happened on two of the bolts I tightened. Now those two bolts wont thread and tighten up when I try to tighten them. I did a little research in the forums and read that I must have over tightened the bolts. My question now is, what do I do from here? I have all but two bolts on my valve cover now. Is the car drivable the way it is, and if not, what should I do from here? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[ROOKIE1]

Which 2 ? Sounds as if you a)stripped the holes and b)cracked the valve cover .

 

[Spyder4g64]

You most likely stripped the threads out / cracked the valve cover.

Try to figure out if you stripped the threads going into the head. Just take the valve cover off and try to screw the bolts into the head with your hands. If they're stripped, you can either heli-coil them, or re-tap them. If they're not stripped, then you're good to go.

Leaving 2 bolts out of the VC isn't that big of a problem, as long as no oil is leaking from the areas those bolts would go in..

 

[ROOKIE1]

If they are interior screws , missing them would be a problem . He would spill oil into the plugwells . Either way if it is cracked , you need another one .

 

[noonan98turbo]

They are both on the outside of the valve cover which is a good thing, rather than on the inside causing oil to spill into the plug galleys. Thank god. But its raining now and I don't have a garage so I will have to wait till tomorrow to take the vc off and see wether the threads are striped or if the vc is cracked. Hopefully its not cracked. But having two missing still makes it drivable as long as oil isn't leaking right? Thanks for your input guys.

 

[RedTalon95]

For future reference, those bolts only need to be hand tight .

 

[wcpierson]

Do yourself a favor and invest in a quality torque wrench. You are going to use it a 1000 times it is worth its weight in gold. Also you would be suprised how tight you can "hand tighten" something.

Get a FSM off ebay....every bolt has a torque rating for a reason

 

[zero97tsi]

Heli-coil's. I did the same thing, and holy hell, the coils work great. Also it gives me a bit of protection since they are made out of steel, so over tighting a bit doesn't pose any problem at all.

 

[knochgoon24]

Heli-coil's. I did the same thing, and holy hell, the coils work great. Also it gives me a bit of protection since they are made out of steel, so over tighting a bit doesn't pose any problem at all.

Except what are the heli-coils tapped into...aluminum...still the same material, just a bit more.

 

[noonan98turbo]

What are heli-coils? I took off my valve cover and it is not cracked, so now I just need to try those heli-coils and hopefully everything will be all set.

 

[steve]

What are heli-coils?

Is google blocked from your computer. Instead of waiting you would know the answer already.

They are coiled wire thread inserts. You drill out the hole larger, tap it for the insert and install them. If you do it right the inside diameter of the installed insert is the same size as the old threads you stripped.

 

[noonan98turbo]

Is google blocked from your computer. Instead of waiting you would know the answer already.

They are coiled wire thread inserts. You drill out the hole larger, tap it for the insert and install them. If you do it right the inside diameter of the installed insert is the same size as the old threads you stripped.

Thanks alot for that information. I didnt even think about trying google to search for what they are.

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

So I have about 3 stipped valve cover bolt holes on my engine head, 3 of them in the rear, thank goodness less likely to leak then the front ones. My bolts tend to losen up rather quickly in general on the vlave cover, too. I need to retorque regularly, perhaps having the 3 bad ones helps make it losen quicker?

I have searched and found out that some people would just get a slightly longer bolt. I want to know if anyone has the part number for a slightly longer bolt?

Or also a slightly bigger around bolt?

PS I also have one stripped bolt hole holding my hood, what is the part I need to fix that? Do I need to make a new thread if so can you help me with the specifics on that and/or slightly bigger round bolt?

For the record all these were stripped before I got it

 

[Defiant]

There is no "part number". Just hit up the hardware store for those particular applications. Save "part numbers" for engine internals.

 

[turboglenn]

The bolts you are seeking are an M6 x 1.0 (6mm diameter with a 1.0 pitch to the threads - the 6 is the thread diameter, most will have 10mm heads on them), just take yours with you and get slightly longer ones.

 

[VisionPaintball]

Find a helicoil kit. I replaced all my valve cover bolt holes with helicoils and it was like new. The kit costs about $40 but worth every penny.

 

[TSI4Life]

Hello, I need some expert advice. So I learned one of the hardest lessons of my life today. I put a new valve cover on, didnt put the washers on the bolts and stripped out the threads. I am wondering if it is plausible to re-tap the head? If so, what bolts do I use, what thread size, ect. Anyone who has had this problem before, please help, ### this sucks and I feel like a ####ing newb. Thank you.

 

[BrooklynBomber]

no worries dude it happens to everybody. what i would do personally is get yourself some Time-Sert's they are really easy to use and not that much money. You can probably find them at most of your auto shops.

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