Striped Bolt on Valve Cover

[k0k0p31i]

Well i just got my car a few days ago and I've been trying to bring it up to par. I noticed oil leaking from the screws on top of my valve cover and on the side next to the distributor. So i decided to replace to the gaskets and o-ring this weekend, but when i was checking the bolt to make sure they weren't loose the front left one just kept turning with every little effort, all the rest were snug. So i think the threads have been striped. I just wanted to know what i should do? should i take the bolt out and do all the gasket work, will i hurt anything more if i do? How can i fix this?

[ddd4114]

bump, I have the same issue


I was thinking of either tapping it and using a thicker bolt, or just filling it with JB Weld and drilling/tapping it.

Any ideas?

[shifty35]

Helicoil it.

[94z6ex]

it may be stripped, but my guess would be that who ever tightened last got a lil to happy with the wrench and overtightened it to the point where it broke the bolt off in the head. It is a PITA to get out if it is a broken bolt. I have one in my head, it is the rear passenger side bolt on the valve cover.......i didnt bother pulling it out because its not leaking, but i did put some gasket maker in that area of the valve cover to help it seal and stay held down a bit.

[Jaime 88dxb18]

Helicoil it.

Ding ding ding!!

We have a winner.
That is what I was going to suggest.

[shifty35]

it may be stripped, but my guess would be that who ever tightened last got a lil to happy with the wrench and overtightened it to the point where it broke the bolt off in the head. It is a PITA to get out if it is a broken bolt. I have one in my head, it is the rear passenger side bolt on the valve cover.......i didnt bother pulling it out because its not leaking, but i did put some gasket maker in that area of the valve cover to help it seal and stay held down a bit.

If you are very careful, and very lucky, you can use a small punch and a hammer to spin the bolt backwards and get it out. I've seen it done with valve cover bolts.

[Green 91]

i use BOLTs, instead of shitty studs.
except for the 2 by the timing belt
http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/1425/picture257cz5.jpg

[Jaime 88dxb18]

If you are very careful, and very lucky, you can use a small punch and a hammer to spin the bolt backwards and get it out. I've seen it done with valve cover bolts.

If you can get a good bite, an easy-out might work

[k0k0p31i]

Ok well the bolt isn't broken, i took them out and only found a small piece of metle wrpped around the end of the one bolt, But now i have more questions. The first is how the hell do you get the bolts off the valve cover to replace to gromets? And second i think when i put the valve cover back on i might have done the some thing to the bolt right next to the one that was originally stripped, but i didn't apply nearly the 84 in-lb the should have been applied, what should i do??! i have a D16Z6

[burnoutboy]

as far as getting the bolts out of the valve cover just PULL!!!! Mine were a bitch, but they will come off. I have a brand new set of bolts and bolt seals in a baggie I was gonna use, but I just reused mine cause I couldn't get the damn rubber/metal washer/grommet thingys (yes that IS the technical term) off of the V.C. bolts.

[shifty35]

The little metal grommets are probably just stuck to the valve cover, they are not a part of it. You usually replace them with the valve cover gasket set.

[k0k0p31i]

Yeah so i got the bolts out, replaced all the gaskets and helicoil'd the valve cover bolts. Works great now. Thanks guys.