Snapped off one Valve Cover bolt and the other is stripped!!

[machinegun]

JoJo, To do this correct I would start with removing the valve covers. This not hard but is time consuming. YOu will also need brake cleaner, and new gaskets, I recommend the GM gaskets. Once you remove the bolts you can on the drivers side Cover, you can pry up just a little to apply pressure to the stripped bolt. It should come right out. If not it maybe so stripped that it will just come out with the valve cover. On the passenger side after removal of the cover, see if you can easily back out what is left in the hole with a screw driver that is small. If not try a screw extractor. If this does not work then go to the next step. This you will be doing for the drivers side anyway. Go to NAPA and match up a helicoil kit. This will usually include the drill bit you need or it will tell you the dril bit you need. You drill out the hole to the correct size. On the passenger side this will also drill out the old bolt. Using the supplied tap, tap the hole you just drilled. Install the insert. Now look for bolts that closely match the thread pitch and length. Use a couple of washers to adjust as necessary. If done correct it will stock. Place your bolt through a washer through the solenoid through another washer and directly into the valve cover. Tighten appropriatly. The directions are on the helicoil kit and are easy to follow.

 

[jojo]

Originally posted by machinegun
JoJo, To do this correct I would start with removing the valve covers. This not hard but is time consuming. YOu will also need brake cleaner, and new gaskets, I recommend the GM gaskets. Once you remove the bolts you can on the drivers side Cover, you can pry up just a little to apply pressure to the stripped bolt. It should come right out. If not it maybe so stripped that it will just come out with the valve cover. On the passenger side after removal of the cover, see if you can easily back out what is left in the hole with a screw driver that is small. If not try a screw extractor. If this does not work then go to the next step. This you will be doing for the drivers side anyway. Go to NAPA and match up a helicoil kit. This will usually include the drill bit you need or it will tell you the dril bit you need. You drill out the hole to the correct size. On the passenger side this will also drill out the old bolt. Using the supplied tap, tap the hole you just drilled. Install the insert. Now look for bolts that closely match the thread pitch and length. Use a couple of washers to adjust as necessary. If done correct it will stock. Place your bolt through a washer through the solenoid through another washer and directly into the valve cover. Tighten appropriatly. The directions are on the helicoil kit and are easy to follow.

So what you are saying is basically drill into the hole that already exists that the bolt goes into down in the head pushing the partially broken one right out of the bottom right?? this will create new threads over the already existing hole right?? this is what this helicoil kit does. Is this screw extractor similar to what the other guys were saying? the easy out kit? or the bolt extractor from the hardware store? also the bolt that is stripped on the drivers side, this one has a nut on top that keeps turning, im not sure if i mentioned that or not. Its not like the other ones that just screw right down into the block. Should i put washer into all the bolts? the ones in there now dont have any they are just screwed right in, or does it make a difference. So basically the helicoil kit is the last step if the easy out, or bolt extractor doesnt work right??

thanks machinegun

jojo

 

[Joe Tiano]

have you got the v-cover of the car??...when you do...you can then figure out how to remove the broke bolt!.......if your lucky there will be some of the bolt to put some vise grips on... and back the bolt out...now if its broke off flush...then you will need to decide how to remove it....if you go the easy -out methid...you need to center punch the bolt...as close to center as possible...so the drill bit dont walk... and you drill the threds out of the head!!....the way I remove broke bolts is to ...take a dremel tool..put a cut-off wheel on it..carfully grind a slot for a small screwdriver in the broke bolt...then i use a heat gun or small torch to warm up the metal around the bolt...then back it out...yes a heli-coil will repair the threds if the head is stripped out...the thred size is 1/4-20...easy to find anywhere .i'm sure that you can find tha factory correct valve cover screws....I might have what you need....hope this helps joe

 

[jojo]

Originally posted by Joe Tiano
have you got the v-cover of the car??...when you do...you can then figure out how to remove the broke bolt!.......if your lucky there will be some of the bolt to put some vise grips on... and back the bolt out...now if its broke off flush...then you will need to decide how to remove it....if you go the easy -out methid...you need to center punch the bolt...as close to center as possible...so the drill bit dont walk... and you drill the threds out of the head!!....the way I remove broke bolts is to ...take a dremel tool..put a cut-off wheel on it..carfully grind a slot for a small screwdriver in the broke bolt...then i use a heat gun or small torch to warm up the metal around the bolt...then back it out...yes a heli-coil will repair the threds if the head is stripped out...the thred size is 1/4-20...easy to find anywhere .i'm sure that you can find tha factory correct valve cover screws....I might have what you need....hope this helps joe

Thanks Joe, it is starting to make better sense to me now. It looks like the bolts that are in there now are smooth part of the way down and then the threading starts on these things. According to one of the other replys he matched his up with some from the harware store, same thread and everything. I called the gm dealer and they told me they were discontinued, but could be matched up with other bolts to fit.

thanks again Joe

jojo

 

[jojo]

Well just the update on the valve cover (pass side)

Wasnt too bad, but sure enough the remaining bolt was broken off inside the head. Went and bought that bolt extractor kit. Basically just a two sided drill bit, which has the the drilling piece on one end and the pointy looking drill piece that exctracts the bolt on the other. Anyway it came right out and replaced the gasket w/Felpro brand from Auto Zone all seems to be in order now. And thanks for all the replies who chimed in for me.

thanks again

jojo