head stud question....

[sleepyalero]

okay let me run you through the story first. then we will be onto the question. so awhile back i installed pacesetter headers on my 3400. on the front head the bottom left stud broke inside. i had a buddy come fix it but he used a tap and dye set IIRC on it and made it bigger then stock. so now i have to have a notch in my header for it to go on that stud. it works and doesnt leak at all, but i want to get it fixed..

my first thought was i could replace the head. cheapest head ive found so far (without asking for one on here or GAGT) was 65$ used on ebay. but instead of replacing the whole head because its honestly a somewhat expensive job to do myself and alot of work just because i want a stud fixed back to the smaller size so i dont have to notch any other headers i put on there.

so my question is... since that hole in the head is bigger now, could i put a heli coil inside it and make it to where a stock stud will work again? or is my only option replacing the whole head?

[[ion] C2]

Question is, why does it matter? It's a fastener, it's bigger and stronger now, and doesn't cause conflict all the time. It's torqued down, you're done. Who cares what size it is?

You might be able to helicoil it. To me, if it's not broke, don't waste your time trying to "fix" it and possibly open a can of worms, so to speak.

[sleepyalero]

true, but the thing is i can tighten it but if i tighten it to much i could strip it. (when you tighten this nut it always feels loose) so you have to pretty much guess when to stop or i can strip it and have the same problem from what my buddy said when he repaired it.

i was just curious if a helicoil would work because i was talking to mike from mms and he mentioned that to me when i told him about how my bottom middle stud is broke in the head and im going to have him repair it probably. and he asked why my friend didnt use a heli coil on the bottom left one so i could keep the stock stud instead of making it bigger. so i figured maybe when they fix the bottom middle stud, they could maybe throw in a heli coil in the bottom left hole as well so they are all the same size.

[[ion] C2]

k so problem solved

use ARP this time.. you won't break em

[sleepyalero]

i actually plan on getting milzy's stainless allen head bolts.

[[ion] C2]

oh woops for some reason i keep thinking head studs, not exhaust manifold studs

probably because you keep referring to them as such lol

[sleepyalero]

hahaha sorry i figured you were confused, yes i am talking about the studs/bolts for headers or manifolds lol. would you like to re answer my question on if i could heli coil the bottom left hole that my buddy made bigger to go back to stock manifold stud size?

[[ion] C2]

just heli-coil it

[sleepyalero]

alright will do!

[kwhauck]

I would helicoil it and then get percy's locking header bolts!! That's what I have.

[guiguilandry]

I'm the third to vote for the helicoil !!

[sleepyalero]

thanks guys, im looking into it now.