Time-sert

[hoveringuy]

Anyone ever time-sert an aluminum block? This reminds me of the Porsche days when head studs pulled out of the magnesium cases and case savers were standard procedure.

Yeah, I figured I should test-torque the head and sure enough two bolts wouldn't torque next to #5 cyl. Time-sert actually makes a kit for BMW. http://www.timesert.com/html/bmw.html

Any insight here?

[dmoney(AB)]

At work when we do headgaskets on a Northstar engine we must time sert every head bolt hole as they always pull threads out. The block is aluminum so I dont see a problem there.
hope that helps.

[evil_twin]

Time-serts save lives :)

[Farbin Kaiber]

Go for it. Your not gonna be running redonkulous boost, so don't worry.

The Ford 4.6/5.4l's have been the recent "strip-out" engine as of late. Lots of spark plugs blowing out on the road. I saw 15-20 of them last year.

[hoveringuy]

This seems to be a well-worn path. Lots of Northstar engines are having this problem.

Baum makes a jig... http://www.baumtools.com/pdf/bmw_M52...6-head_jig.pdf but it's $360.

The actual Time-Sert kit and inserts is a little over $100.

Does anyone have the measurements of the headbolt spacing? I could punch out a guide plate on a vertical mill.

Better yet, does anyone have the Baum tool they'd like to rent to me? Baum says they've sold 12 in the past month alone. I have seen the future...

[SpecM]

-dear lord yes, northstar engines pull headbolts all the time. The head gaskets never really "blow", they just loosen up. Did the front head on my dad's Olds Aurora about a year ago.

-Back OT, those timeserts are good stuff. Just a bit pricey.