Stripped valve cover bolts.

[GutsyGecko]

So, I'm halfway through installing Justin's valve covers, and I'm tightening the new bolts up, the entire back half, every single bolt is already stripped (the threads in the head!!!! Not the bolt itself!!!) Whoever had this truck before me took them off for something, and gorilla tightened the whole thing down.

I have no idea how badly this is gonna leak like this... I always wondered why it leaked so much before. Anyone have any ideas? Oh yeah, and I forgot, the furthest back bolt is broken off, as in the valve covers were broken at the back bolt, so I can forget getting my core charges on these... What a day... *end rant*

 

[fastestbrickonearth]

Helicoil homie

 

[VENOMOUS1 RACING]

Post up some pics of covers bro. I may buy them and repair them if price is good. As for the heads. First verify bolts are correct size. Maybe they didn't put right ones in there? If not you can tap to next size or helicoil as mentioned. Sounds like the cranked em tight to prevent the broken cover they obviously knew about from leaking.

 

[yellowfever#154]

That's going to suck to fix, you have some shitty luck. This is why some people should not be allowed to use tools.

 

[VENOMOUS1 RACING]

Yes they are magnesium so may just make good shop art for me ;-)

 

[Itsmekylep]

Dang that sucks! I just took my valve covers off yesterday and it was a pain in the ass to get those back bolts off! Hopefully you can get it fixed

 

[VENOMOUS1 RACING]

Dang that sucks! I just took my valve covers off yesterday and it was a pain in the ass to get those back bolts off! Hopefully you can get it fixed

Why were they a pain bro? Tight? I've never really had issues with them? I'm betting the OP could find pry marks where they just tried removing the cover thinking they'd removed all bolts ? Sux really

 

[Itsmekylep]

Why were they a pain bro? Tight? I've never really had issues with them? I'm betting the OP could find pry marks where they just tried removing the cover thinking they'd removed all bolts ? Sux really

I guess that was a poor choice of words. The work its self wasn't hard but leaning over the front bumper, feet in the air reaching for those back bolts sucked for me lol

 

[Itsmekylep]

Your probably right about the pry marks. I thought I had all the bolts out on the driver side at first too.

 

[VENOMOUS1 RACING]

I guess that was a poor choice of words. The work its self wasn't hard but leaning over the front bumper, feet in the air reaching for those back bolts sucked for me lol

You mean you're not 6'8?

 

[GutsyGecko]

You can see what they did. They removed all but the last bolt on both sides, and then pulled straight up with the covers. It broke off the rear most section of cover to the gasket line. The gasket does indeed properly go in its groove. The pieces were still bolted on. The broken pieces are about 1" long by 1/4 in the cover. I'll post pics in the morning. I think a quick hit with some jb weld could fix them right up.

 

[wayne]

I think a quick hit with some jb weld could fix them right up.

OHH BOY..... more afro engineering

 

[JaysSRT10]

Sorry to hear about this bro, If you need/want a trust worthy shop to drill/tap and install helicoils my dad couple do them for ya.

 

[ViperPete]

Pretty soft metal. Should be able to tap them easily.