Where can I get rocker cover bolt threads fixed?

[geo1400]

Hi all, I've snapped 2 heads off bolts on my rocker cover on my M40. Managed to get 1 out and the other is goosed, needs to be drilled, filled and re-thread...

I also have another thread that is just turning, won't tighten.

I've managed to use another bolt and some washers and got the cover back on so the car is drivable, but need to get it fixed.

I'm in Ayrshire, West of Scotland, where's can I get something like this fixed?

[ed325i]

Try your local garage.

[Taylor325i]

Hi mate. There's an engine specialist in Killie in the Moorfield Industrial estate. Kilmarnock Engine Services (I think). Or what about that place in Dalry on the right as you are heading out towards Kilbirnie? I don't know if they do engine work etc or if they just do bodywork. If it was my car I'd do it myself and I would offer to do it for you but sods law says that it might not go to plan and I don't want the responsibility of damaging your cylinder head. If you decide to do it yourself you can borrow the tools from me.


Taylor.

[jmc330i]

Re the ones that just spin and wont tighten - Most likely the ally threads have been stripped.
Not sure if it can be done with the head/engine in the car but I think you can get the holes in the ally drilled out and steel liners refitted so they cant be stripped in future.

Not sure how its done exactly and I guess youre limited to how much can be drilled out by the design of the head. I need to get 2 done on my S50, but they will wait until more need doing.

[geo1400]

I did ask a garage and they said it was a specialist job. Just wondering if you guys have had experience with this before?

[geo1400]

So you reckon it could be a DIY job Taylor? If your quite good at these sort of things I could maybe get you to have a wee look and see what you think. You be up for that?

[kevo]

no probs a tall, buy yourself a helicoil kit and do it yourself in 20 mins tops with a hand drill. you would ideally have to take the head off to machine it out in order to press a new steel sleeve in only because it needs to be solid i,.e. not moving when you machine it else when you press it in it'll be like a dick in a shirt sleeve. but helicoil kit is the way to go easy peasy.
kevo

[geo1400]

Kevo I love your confidence, I would seriously fcuk something like that up. I've got enough jobs to do without messin something like that up!

Would the helicoil kit come with the sleeves and stuff? Or maybe I should just ask, what's a helicoil kit?

[kevo]

a helicoil kit consists of a set of taps a drill bit and what look like some small springs. what you do is to drill out your existing thread if it were guessing an M6 (a 6mm thread ) which i assume is what your rocker cover bolts are all you do is to drill the rest of the damaged thread clean out to approx 7mm hole (the kit will give you the correct size drill bit can't remember off hand what size it wuld be. the next thing would be to run the tap (a thread cutting tool like a threaded bar with slots cut out of it and made of tungsten or high speed steel usually anyway very hard), run this down your new opened out hole and this will cut the thread. next you take your little spring like thing and wind it into your newly threaded hole. thats it the inside of the 'spring' is your repaired M6 thread and it is now made of hardened steel so it's harder to wear out. simple as that.
try doing a search on the net there should be plenty of info, if you can't find owt let me know an i'll see what i can do.

kev

[Taylor325i]

So you reckon it could be a DIY job Taylor? If your quite good at these sort of things I could maybe get you to have a wee look and see what you think. You be up for that?

I'll have a look at it for you no probs. I've drilled out broken studs on cylinder heads before and re-tapped them with no problems but as said before I don't fancy doing it on an engine that is not mine. I'll pm you my phone no. Give me a bell and we'll have a blether aboot it.


Taylor.

[E30Mark]

Helicoil is certainly tne way to go, you will not neet to remove the rocker cover either.

Kit will cost you approx Ԛ£25, might be cheaper to pay someone else to do it.

they look like this when installed.

[old_skool]

If you can't get a helicoil then just tap it to M7x1 and use a M7 stud. There is plenty of material there to drill out, after all - a helicoil is just a threaded sleeve which packs out the hole. No need to remove the head at all and will take no more than 5 minutes. Be careful of swarf entering the head when drilling and tapping. Another option

[geo1400]

Thanks a lot guys, Helicoil kit sounds like a handy thing to have.

Taylor I'll maybe give you a call tomorrow afternoon if your available? I'll try anyway and if you can meet me then great.

Thanks again, Geo1400