putting things back together (question)

[DavidT]

I am getting ready to attack ONE area of my disgusting oil leaks.
All 3 cam seals.
I had the top end open a few weeks ago. Upon reinstall, I managed to destroy one of the female threads on one of the cam cover bolts. (where the bolt screws into.) I backed out the bolt, and all the female threads were wrapped around the threads on the bolt.
Was I supposed to grease the bolt before reinstall?
I really don't know why this happened. It went in straight. And my tq. wrench never clicked. shrug
I am asking this because if this happens to me when I start taking off and reinstalling cam parts, etc... I will be SICK...

 

[SHO--ripper]

I'm hesitant about using my TQ. wrench on the delicate valve cover bolts. Don't worry about reinstalling everything. Is you TQ. wrench off? What did you torque it to?

 

[DavidT]

I can't remember. It was pretty low... also, I was using sdpatts guidelines...
I remember thinking to myself, "'self', this wrench should be clicking by now..."
From then on, I put it up, and just snugged the remaining bolts squint

 

[shojuan]

Sucks about the stripped threads. One word for you: helicoil.

I haven't done cam seals but I'm guessing there isn't nearly as much risk as far as stripping threads is concerned. Unless the torque specs seem crazy just trust your torque wrench on that stuff.

And to answer your question on the valve cover bolts, yes you are supposed to oil those bolts before installing them. Not sure that would have saved you from stripping the threads though. It seems like that just sometimes happens. A little too often. Oh well, helicoil into the soft aluminum should be easy. The benefit is the helicoil will be much stronger than the original aluminum threads.

 

[K-Dawg]

David, just curious, what kind of torque wrench are you using?

 

[sdpatt]

The cam seals are best included as part of the front end 60K. The timing belt, camshaft pulleys, backside metal timing belt cover, CID sensor, CID sensor mounting ring and CID sensor vane must be removed to get access to the three seals. The most challenging part of this job is removing the old seals without damaging the camshafts. I have posted pictures of the three cam seals in this forum. You may want to search for them to see what you will find when you take everything apart.

 

[DavidT]

thanks for the info. thumb
k-dawg, I was afraid somebody would ask that...
Autozone:$25


<small>[ July 31, 2003, 06:28 PM: Message edited by: DavidT ]</small>

 

[rangerj]

David,

It is very common for a torque wrench to "click" very quietly when on low torque settings. This is especially true with inch pound torque wrenches.

When you said to yourself, "self, this wrench should have "clicked", you should have also said to yourself, "self you should STOP and back off the bolt and try again". You should have listened to yourself! oh_my

Talking to yourself is normal. But if you argue with yourself, and loose the argument, it is time to worry! rangerj