Stripped one of the pan bolts - what size to retap/replace with?

[BigD]

So I was mounting up my modded S52 oil pan up, and everything is up and tight to spec and in the proper sequence but the front exhaust side bolt is stripped. It's not my doing cause I was very slow and used a torque wrench to the proper amount - it never came close, seems to me this was a prexisting condition.

Anyway, I know it probably won't mean jack cause I used the good metal gasket with the rubber seal AND I siliconed both sides but I'd like to do it right so I want to fix the hole. I've never used thread fixing stuff (helicoil?) so if you guys can suggest that, I'm all ears. For now what I'm thinking is to just retap the hole for something bigger. What size thread should I go up to?

Thanks!
D

[jlevie]

A helicoil would be the right fix.

[BigD]

Is it a proper fix, not one of those infomercial type, solder with no heat, paint with no paint type shit?

I just measured the bolt, it looks to be 6x1, is that right?

[Mr Deagle]

helicoils are the shit, in some of our aluminum parts, we helicoil them right after they are done, so the customer can crank down on them

helicoils = proper repair

[BigD]

Cool, thanks guys.