Broken valve cover bolt(Worst)

[FastAndFurious]

I've searched but I couldn't find the answer.

It's not just broken valve cover bolt. My dad and I tried to easyout it today but it didn't work. So I was gonna go for heli-coil, but my dad said he actually drilled it bigger than heli-coil requires. I don't know what to do now. Hole is too big for helicoil. Do I have to use JB weld and helicoil or I can just use JB weld for that? Also, if you have any good ideas I'll be glad to hear those. Thanks

 

[AREA 91]

If it's only 1 bolt, you can put some RTV under the bolt head and washer and stick it in. I wouldn't do it myself, but I know a few who have.

 

[FastAndFurious]

Well. Thanks for the reply. I was thinking about it but I think I'm going to try JB weld and just stuff new bolt with release agent in. I've heard that thing holds tight!

 

[AREA 91]

So are you goig to JB weld the Heli coil in the head?

 

[FastAndFurious]

Nah, just JB weld. So put jb weld in the hole and put a new bolt with release agent on it so it comes out easily later. That's what I'm going to try. If it doesn't work. I'll either try Jb weld and helicoil or just RTV around rubber part

 

[zak]

If its one of the small ones near the edge just put a bolt and nut though it.

 

[FastAndFurious]

No, It's in the middle. Haha

 

[johndallara]

valve cover problem

here is an idea that worked for me. in the first photo, you can see the valve cover bolt that I stripped, then broke off the ez-out on. more attempts at drilling did no good.




after several hours of unhappiness, I applied some basic physics. Realizing that there was a potential level arm from the center of the drilled out bolt to the bolt edge (large flat top), I used a hacksaw to gouge out a notch near the edge. Then an old chisel and hammer loosened the bolt by tapping it counterclockwise.




best of luck.

JD

 

[K-Dawg]

JohnDallara, it sounds like he already got the bolt out.

To the original poster: The solution sounds pretty simple. Just use a larger Helicoil and larger bolt.

 

[FastAndFurious]

K-Dawg. Where cna you get larger bolt tho? Do they make specific larger bolt for valve cover bolt?

 

[K-Dawg]

Hardware stores sell bolts. They won't look like the factory bolt, but with the factory washer and grommet, plus another flat washer and some RTV you should be alright. Depending on how big you have to go, you might have to hog out the hole on the stock washer.

 

[FastAndFurious]

Hm. I see I see. I'm going to try JB first since I bought it and if it doesn't work, I'll try that. Thank you for the good idea!

 

[itwonder]

If you stuff the bolt into wet JB Weld how will you torque it down? I would fill the hole with JB Weld, let it fully cure (1-2 days at 70 degrees) , and then drill and tap it to size. JB Weld can be tapped. You also might be able to use an EZ-lok (ezlok.com) insert, either installed per directions or glued in with JB Weld.

 

[RAYJAY]

Hm. I see I see. I'm going to try JB first since I bought it and if it doesn't work, I'll try that. Thank you for the good idea!

there is 3 different ways of fixing your problem, depending how over size you drilled the hole

retap the hole to fit a steel bolt in therecut it off and then retap for bolt thread

jb weld let dry and drill and tap for helicoil

over size helicoil or ss thread insert depends on how oversize you drill out the hole.


Jeff

 

[FastAndFurious]

Hey guys. Worse thing happened. So we started drilling it and we drilled too much that we drilled through the head. Coolant got out a little bit. Do you guys know how to fix this? Well, we were thinking of get a helicoil and put rtv around helicoil and under the valve cover bolt shoulder. Then just screw the bolt in. Do you guys think that can prevent from getting coolant in the engine?

 

[RAYJAY]

rvt will not work... you have to hold 16 to 18 lb pressure. drill and tap the hole and put a solid piece in there and then redrill and tap for the valve cover thread do you have any pictures of the head

Jeff

 

[thecrew2999]

if you want a professional fix then remove the head take it to a machine shop where they will tig weld the aluminum head and tap it then just get a stock valve cover bolt and your golden.
you would never know what happened then.

but personally id just do like was stated above it will save you the price of a head gasket even tho its olny gonna cost you like $40 for the gasket.

over size heli coil will work good also...

but cheap easy fix would be JB weld the drill hole and tap it because it will olny require a small amount of ft lbs to hold tight.

im guessing the heads were ugly brown if the bolt was that tight.

good luck and keep us posted.. believe it or not there are some smart people here

 

[ManySHOs]

if you want a professional fix then remove the head take it to a machine shop where they will tig weld the aluminum head and tap it then just get a stock valve cover bolt and your golden.
you would never know what happened then.

but personally id just do like was stated above it will save you the price of a head gasket even tho its olny gonna cost you like $40 for the gasket.

over size heli coil will work good also...

but cheap easy fix would be JB weld the drill hole and tap it because it will olny require a small amount of ft lbs to hold tight.

im guessing the heads were ugly brown if the bolt was that tight.

good luck and keep us posted.. believe it or not there are some smart people here

I suspect that the JB Weld isn't going to set very easily if the area is damp with oil and/or coolant. If the hole went through the head, it might be difficult to keep that area dry enough for it to set. I would remove the head and have it welded or just replace the head. They are cheap enough and not that hard to come by.

Ian

 

[mtascill]

Has anyone else out there tried the Permatex thread repair product? This is a 2 component mix like JB weld but sets up fast. You put some in the stripped out bolt hole, coat the bolt with a release agent that comes with the kit and then thread it into the soft compound. After a few minutes take the bolt back out, leaving working threads. Also means you don't have to drill and tap the new hole.

Not suggesting this for the head repair but had good luck with it on the last couple stripped bolt holes.

 

[K-Dawg]

Hey guys. Worse thing happened. So we started drilling it and we drilled too much that we drilled through the head. Coolant got out a little bit. Do you guys know how to fix this? Well, we were thinking of get a helicoil and put rtv around helicoil and under the valve cover bolt shoulder. Then just screw the bolt in. Do you guys think that can prevent from getting coolant in the engine?

Wow this is just getting better and better. :corn: