Valve cover bolts stripped

[Nick_S]

So I went to change my valve cover gasket today and noticed some of the bolts were loose. Just though the PO hadn't tightened them all the way. Pulled it off, cleaned, painted the valve cover and painted. While drying I took the bolts to my wire wheel to clean them up and noticed a few of them had some metal on them, which ended up being threads. Went to re-install and sure enough, a few of the bolts don't grab anything.

Not real stoked at this piece point but unfortunately my other car is down with some alternator troubles so I had no choice but to put it back together. Tightened all the non damaged bolts and fired it up and it's not leaking from anywhere and runs fine but I'm not happy with this. Should have my Focus back running this week so I'd like to tackle this issue before it gets any worse. It's supposed to be nice this week so I can ride my bike to work so I don't drive it much.

But I'm not real sure what should be done? Re-thread with a larger thread pitch? Or have them heli-coiled? They appeared to be heli-coiled from the factory so I'm guessing that's the most ideal route to go? Any help or insight would be appreciated. Never had an issue like this and really don't want to damage the head. Oh and should have mentioned, it's an M42.

Thanks
Nick

[jlevie]

I'd install TimeSerts, but you could use Helicoils or rethread to the next larger side. As far as I know, the original configuration would have been plain threads into the aluminum of the head.

[twistednut]

Can't really go to the next larger size since it is a special bolt that doesn't allow you to completely crush the gasket. Size for a TimeSert or Helicoil is m6x1.0.

[Nick_S]

Can't really go to the next larger size since it is a special bolt that doesn't allow you to completely crush the gasket. Size for a TimeSert or Helicoil is m6x1.0.

Thanks man that's a huge help so I don't have to search for size. Yea that was my thinking on rethreading. There isn't any material to re-thread, really makes you wonder how someone overtightned it so much to pull the threads out. BTW, call me ignorant but what exactly is Timesert?

[!kid]

Thanks man that's a huge help so I don't have to search for size. Yea that was my thinking on rethreading. There isn't any material to re-thread, really makes you wonder how someone overtightned it so much to pull the threads out. BTW, call me ignorant but what exactly is Timesert?

http://www.timesert.com/html/mtrcsert.html

[Nick_S]

Thanks, those seem like a better option than helicoils.

[BrewCity11]

This happens all the time on M42s. I've helicoiled a bunch of those. Annoying to do but not difficult.