VETDRMS

I quit, I don't think there is one thing I can put my hands on today without breaking it.

So the car is running really well but kind of lean so I was going to go up one jet on the primaries, that's fine. I take the fuel bowl off, look at the metering block and notice there are two gaskets under the power valve. So I take the power valve out, remove one of the gaskets and put the PV back in. I go to snug it up (i'm not cranking on it) and it slips like I just ripped the threads out of the metering block. So I take the PV out and its broke in half...

That is fine because I have spares, so I slap a new one in, go to put the fuel bowl back on and I'm am tightening down the fuel bowl screws, I go back over each one to snug it up and I hear a POP from the top passenger side bolt. Great, don't tell me I just f-d up the mainbody...
Sure thing, I pull the bowl, take the carb off and the heli-coil has popped out. I back the heli-coil out and all the threads in the main body came right with it.

So now what... These bolts are a 12-24 and I ordered a heli-coil kit but there are no threads left to insert a heli-coil into. Just a blank hole.
I have a good feeling i'm screwed here and I know a mainbody won't be cheap.

Does anyone have any ideas how I can fix this? Maybe I just have super-human strength I can't tell today but I better not touch anything else. I wasn't cranking on these either.

I'm about to close the garage doors and leave the damn thing sit for a couple months, i'm sick of it.

Jughead

Sounds like one of my better days. Fortunately My "vette" time is spaced out, here & there and I get to calm down.

jdmick

Never tried this but maybe you can use the next size helicoil and bush it with the size you need.

Michel B

When installing a helicoil, you must cut helicoil threads, in other word you automaticaly increase in size. (special helicoil tap required). so your not screwed. hope this makes your day.

Matt Gruber

well
there are a few tricks
not all will work
1. use longer bolt
2. go 1/4 20 maybe grind it down to a mid size
3. stud it
4. use larger(but smaller than 1/4 20) metric
5. tap deeper use 10/32 (not sure what is in there )

Gordonm

Not having one of those days with the car but around the house everything I touch either needs fixing or stops working. I'm afraid to even look at the Vette.

1979toy

It's common in the aircraft engine industry to double heli-coil threads. Doing so gives the large threads for holding power without the attending large bolt or screw.

Fevre

If the main body is lost ProForm sells a 750 main body for $99, have one but have not got the car running this year. It is pretty nice, screw in air bleeds and no choke tower (should flow better than a DP with tower).

VETDRMS

Wow, thanks for all the replies. I think I got it fixed.

The demon carbs already come with heli-coils, so if you yank one out your stuck with a blank hole...

I ordered the 12-24 heli-coil kit ($35 for a tap!?) and ran the tap through the hole and it must be a little bigger than the one Barry Grant uses as it cut new threads, albiet small ones into the hole. I mixed up some JB-quick and coated the heli-coil insert with it and installed the insert. It is a tight fit and it looks like it will hold just fine.

I need to take back my plee for a garage fire or theft before its too late!

Thanks again, we'll see if it holds together. If not, I'll go to 1/4-20.

Sharky Guam

Damn! I had already made plans to come up and take the misery off of your hands for a few dollars......okay, so maybe i could ust take the money and buy plane tickets to Disney World...........

Glad to hear about the "no fire" and "Corvette suicide watch" cancellation......do what I do and "step away and take two aspirins then call a Corvette doctor in the morning".........

If you leave the project alone for a while. And when you return,things usually get clearer....and if you need help, we are here for you! And we don't charge a dime!

StickShiftCorvette

I'd see if you can find a "Keensert". It is basically a threaded sleeve with larger STANDARD OD threads with the stripped size on it's inside diameter. If you cannot stand the larger diameter near the face of the threads you can set the insert below the face of the threads and epoxy the area back flush. They go down to at least 10-24 and 10-32 female threads (search keensert to find sites).

Good Luck.

bobs77vet

good job....

fl_rider

http://www.timesert.com/index.html

Check out thier site and see if they have the size you need.

Chris B

VETDRMS

"...."'s usually infer the equivalent of a scowl, your not upset are you Bob?

bobs77vet

Good Job! there was a good reason i got a "d" in english

VETDRMS

Bobs77vet: LOL, Man, it is embarrassing enough, and I thought I had someone heckling me for f-ing up my carb...

isosceles

I feel you pain.

I just fixed a stripped fuel bowl thread by ordering the Holley helicoil kit. $70 later , it's fixed. If it saves me 3 trips to the carb shop, it will be worth it.

bobs77vet

not from me......i believe in full FU disclosure...just look at my posts...