Stoopid me! Need Help!!

[rev. 3:11]

I managed to strip the threads: plenum to intake when installing my power plate :add_shit: What to do??
I would like to leave everything in place if possible. The 2 passenger side threads seem to be stripped ( which might explain my high BLMs)
Any help is greatly appreciated :anbet:

[1of1547]

Drill them out and put helicoils in. That is what I had to do.

[jmidolo]

I managed to strip the threads: plenum to intake when installing my power plate :add_shit: What to do??
I would like to leave everything in place if possible. The 2 passenger side threads seem to be stripped ( which might explain my high BLMs)
Any help is greatly appreciated :anbet:


Correct way to do it is to tap it and get a new bolt. Just bring the old bolt to your local hardware store and get the next size up. You could drill it out larger and heli-coil it, but I dont know what kind of meat is there to do that, I'd just runa tap thru it.

[1badTTA]

I managed to strip the threads: plenum to intake when installing my power plate :add_shit: What to do??
I would like to leave everything in place if possible. The 2 passenger side threads seem to be stripped ( which might explain my high BLMs)
Any help is greatly appreciated :anbet:
Well unfortunately, the only way to fix it right is to install heliocoils in the stripped holes. That will involve drilling them out to a larger size and tapping them for the heliocoils and then inserting them. The good new is that it isn't very expensive, the bad news is that it will be next to impossible to do it with the upper plenum still on.

Items needed: Drill motor, Drill Bit, Bottoming Tap, Heliocoil insertion tool, Heliocoils.

You may want to do all the holes as threaded aluminum (such as the intake) isn't designed for bolts to be inserted more than once or twice and since you will need to remove the other bolts again there is a good chance that the other threads aren't in the greatest condition.

Good luck, it should only take about 5 minutes per hole once you have the plenum off and intake plugged to prevent shavings from getting into the engine.

[jmidolo]

Yea, I've stripped a few things using air tools...mostly alum w/a ratchet..now I just use the air to run them in once I hand start them and tighten them using the ratchet w/out the air going like a normal hand op. one.

[1badTTA]

Yea, I've stripped a few things using air tools...mostly alum w/a ratchet..now I just use the air to run them in once I hand start them and tighten them using the ratchet w/out the air going like a normal hand op. one.
Well when you are using a 1/4" Matco air ratchet, it gets pretty dicey as it will torque a nut or bolt to 200 Lb/in which is almost 17 Lb/ft. You wouldn't think that little 1/4" air ratchet would go that high but it does..............LOL

You don't want to hear about all the things I have stripped with it including pulling the heads off of 1/4" Titanium fasteners (oooooops)

[Turbo Brian]

i second doing all the holes. while dicking around with a powerplate and some leak issues, i had the plenum off atleast 8 times. i ended up stripping 4 of the 5 holes. the rear one is still good for some reason. threads feel good still too. anywho, helicoils work great and you may as well do it while you are there. no sense in doing one, bolting everything back up and stripping the last one only to be forced to remove the plenum again.

[rev. 3:11]

Thanks, guys!
I don't mind pulling the plenum off; but the intake, etc. get's "Murphy" involved. I assume that the Helicoil kit/parts are avail @ NAPA, Pep-Boys, etc.?

[GONE N SIXTY]

I had stripped my back intake bolt recently and i used the heliocoil big mistake for me, because the heliocoil open the bolt hole which in return it cracked and when i started the car a major vacuum leak, after removing the intake a chunk of alum. was missing from the bolt hole. so i had to remove the head to make sure no alum. was in there....so i had to buy another ported and polish intake $300.. so be careful

[rev. 3:11]

Roger that. I'm going to look at all my options, plan carefully, anticipate all potential problems, take my time fixing it :val: ... then screw it up :add_schac

[1badTTA]

Thanks, guys!
I don't mind pulling the plenum off; but the intake, etc. get's "Murphy" involved. I assume that the Helicoil kit/parts are avail @ NAPA, Pep-Boys, etc.?
Alot of hardware stores also carry them. You should be able to find a kit which will include the correct drill bit/s and tap/s along with a small selection of heli-coils (not sure how the hell it is spelled) for different threads and bolt sizes. I would recomend staying away from the interference thread coils since they aren't needed and the originals weren't intereference threads (self locking style) and those coils have a better chance of pulling out.

Don't feel bad, it is a pretty common problem with those holes getting stripped out when installing a PP.

HTH

[rev. 3:11]

Thanks... I don't feel quite as stupid now... :zahn:

[1of1547]

Where I work at we make big aluminum manifolds for mass transit. Most of the time the customer requires us to Helicoil all tapped holes for strength and durabilty.

[rev. 3:11]

Well... I bought 2 longer bolts and 3 lock-washers for $1.25 and my BLMs went to 128! :zahn: Then I started to play w/ my IAC/TPS and am going crazy!! Now BLMs are @ 128 at idle and bounce around to 150 and back down under throttle. :stupid:
I am planning to Helicoil the holes and install studs; just havent been able to locat studs or kit yet :dong:
I really appreciate all the input :anbet: