Hello everybody, I have a question. I have tried searching around but haven't found much. I have recently acquired 1990 318i that I' am going to be taking the head off of. I took the valve cover off to take a peek at the cams and then I put the cover back on. I soon found out as well as a lot of other people have how easy it is to strip the head's threads. I say that a lot of people will just heli coil the thread and that solves the problem. What I was wondering is could I make a steel plug with a tapped hole and put that in the aluminum block? I just want to make sure the two materials will be okay with all the expansion and heat.
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
M42 valve cover plugs?
Collapse
X
-
You mean like a timesert? Just helicoil it. I did that to mine, it was easy and worked well.
IG @turbovarg
'91 318is, M20 turbo
[CoTM: 4-18]
'94 525iT slicktop, M50B30 + S362SX-E, 600WHP DD or bust - updated 3-17
-
Pointless to spend the extra money on timeserts and keyserts and such for such a low stress application. Even in the high stress applications it's pointless, helicoils are the standard for thread repairs in the aircraft industry. The off brand ones are fine for a valve cover.
IG @turbovarg
'91 318is, M20 turbo
[CoTM: 4-18]
'94 525iT slicktop, M50B30 + S362SX-E, 600WHP DD or bust - updated 3-17
Comment
-
I don't know the difference in cost and I can understand that can be a factor. I use them daily at work on components for industrial engines, if something has a helicoil we take them out and replace with keyserts.
They can be tapped, they can be easily removed, they take more of a beating, you can get thin wall, or heavy wall and made of numerous materials.
I prefer them but thats just my opinion, do what you want.
It beats making your own plugs thoughsigpic
1991 318is x 2 .
Comment
-
Originally posted by Fsnow View PostI don't know the difference in cost and I can understand that can be a factor. I use them daily at work on components for industrial engines, if something has a helicoil we take them out and replace with keyserts.
They can be tapped, they can be easily removed, they take more of a beating, you can get thin wall, or heavy wall and made of numerous materials.
I prefer them but thats just my opinion, do what you want.
It beats making your own plugs thoughsigpic
Comment
-
I had helicoils in my head's valve cover bolt holes from 2005 - 2012 and not a single one had an issue. When I blew that engine, the replacement I got from Metric Mechanic also had Helicoils in there. If they are good enough for MM, then they are good enough for me.
With that said, if you want to go the TimeSert route, it certainly can't hurt.
Comment
-
You should CNC an oil cooler/remote filter adapter that bolts on where the stock oil filter housing does.
IG @turbovarg
'91 318is, M20 turbo
[CoTM: 4-18]
'94 525iT slicktop, M50B30 + S362SX-E, 600WHP DD or bust - updated 3-17
Comment
Comment