Cross Threaded The LIMG

Nate's Alero · 03-09-2009, 10:43 PM

man, if you have ever done an LIMG change, you know the side bolts on the LIM,

right above the thermostat housing, twards the firewall, well, i cross threaded it, i have heard tap it, new thread cutting bolt, etc. what do you all think?

kwhauck · 03-09-2009, 11:37 PM

get a new LIM....

[ion] C2 · 03-09-2009, 11:47 PM

he says he crossthreaded the head not the manifold

kwhauck · 03-09-2009, 11:55 PM

get a new head then......whatever, parts are cheap enough....

jayson_waltz · 03-10-2009, 12:33 AM

just tap it a size bigger and use a dif bolt. problem solved.

WhiteV6 · 03-10-2009, 01:51 AM

If you only screwed up a couple threads, just retap it. If its bad enough, just drill and helicoil it. I have stripped test heads on the flowbench quite a few times and just retap.

You will probably need a new bolt. I haven't had any with good threads after that.

Beholder88 · 03-10-2009, 07:38 AM

I would just re-tap the head. You don't need an excessive amount of torque on that bolt so it's not like it will be under that much stress. I would just worry about the heat cycles. Keep an eye on it afterwards and maybe give it an extra half turn after a week or so.

Ryan from Ohio · 03-10-2009, 08:18 AM

Its not the "head" its the thread.

I would first get a bottoming tap and run it through the hole. If you just cross threaded it a little (1-3 threads) you should be fine. If you cross threaded it to much you will need to get a Heli Coil. Just keep in mind its HIGHLY IMPORTANT when drilling out the old hole to hold the drill STRAIGHT AND STEADY. If you move the drill around while drilling it will blow the hole oversize. Then when you use the special tap, insert heli coil the heli coil wont be as tight.

And the matter of the fact is the heli coil is stronger than the initial threads

Just be aware you will get an Imperial set as you wont find metric in the stores usually...

Beholder88 · 03-10-2009, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan from Ohio

Its not the "head" its the thread.

It's the threads in the head...

Nate's Alero · 03-10-2009, 10:31 AM

K

now what is a heli coil? and i went almost the entire bolt in btw... i know i rushed....

Beholder88 · 03-10-2009, 10:39 AM

A heli coil is almost what it sounds like. Its a little coil that you put into the hole that you drill out. it replaces the threads that are stipped. You can get them in various sizes at just about any parts store.

Nate's Alero · 03-10-2009, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beholder88

A heli coil is almost what it sounds like. Its a little coil that you put into the hole that you drill out. it replaces the threads that are stipped. You can get them in various sizes at just about any parts store.

cool, i dont want to replace the threads, and i forget the tourque on the side bolts and on the top bolts of the LIMG and the tightning pattern help?

Gr1m · 03-10-2009, 11:41 AM

damn dude i told you to take it slow, i had the exact same problem on that bolt and it took me about 35 minutes to get it to go in properly. precision and patience is key in engine work