Well, everything in my h/c swap was proceeding along just fine, and as I was re-installing my cam retainer plate, I think my torque wrench failed me, and I stripped out the top hole. I was about to vomit as I watched the screw keep spinning and my suspicions increased until I backed it out and watched a spiral of aluminum come trailing out... Where do I go from here? Lay it on me... How screwed am I???

 

Just one of your cam retainer bolts? Should be no biggie. Just tap new threads a size larger, and make sure you clean up all the thread chasing leftovers.

 

or use a helicoil.....

 

Careful here, I don't think that is a blind hole. If it is, then tapping and a helicoil are the way I would go. If not, then you need to pull the cam back out or pull the valley cover (depends on the hole location) and tap and helicoil catching the chips that come out of the back side of the hole. Check to see if the hole goes all the way through first.

 

I'll do that. Any advice on what to do if some of the pieces of aluminum might have fallen into the oil pan? I don't know that they did, but I'm worried that when I backed the screw out, some may have. Any suggestions on catching the chips if I re-tap? I haven't done that before, but I'm assuming there is debris falling out the front right over the timing chain and oil pan...

 

First check to see if the hole is blind. I don't honestly remember. If it is blind, then you can catch any debris that comes out on the front side. Also, look into the oil pan and check over the crankshaft/lower timing sprocket area for chips. Get a shop vac and go over the area. Once you are sure there is nothing there, the cover things up with some clean rags so you don't have to worry about getting stuff in the pan from the front side.

If the hole goes into the valley area, then the chips are likely still there and if you pull the valley cover you can get them out. Do you know how to install a heli coil, if not read up on it. Also, you might want to try it once in a scrap piece of metal (if you have one) or a piece of wood to make sure you understand the process before attempting it on the motor. It isn't hard, but doing once will help and the kits usually have several helicoils in them.

The process involves drilling a slightly larger hole and then tapping the hole for the outside thread of the helicoil. Then using a special tool, you spin the helicoil into the hole and it becomes your new threads. The tang on the end of the helicoil then is broken off. This is hardened steed so you need to make sure you get the tang out of the hole.

 

Sounds pretty easy. I'll be sure to check to see if it goes through or not, and then I'll give it a crack. I hope I don't have to yank the cam, but if I do, I do... I'll be sure to post back once I get it done. I think I'll try doing the helicoil on one of the bolt holes on the back of my old LS1 heads.

 

Woohoo!! Thanks for the help, guys. After successfully helicoiling the two holes I stripped, and getting them and one other bolt torqued to spec, the fourth bolt stripped before it hit 18ft lbs. ARGH. Took it all back apart, and tapped the third one, and boy what a great feeling when that last bolt clicked at 18ft lbs! All is well, and I'm back on my mission. Thanks a ton!

Oh, Vettenuts, the top three holes are closed, but the bottom is not...

 

Is your torque wrench accurate. I purchased a cheaper one several years ago and compared it to a beam type torque wrench (which is inherently accurate) and it was significantly off.

 

It is indeed a cheap-o...

 

You stripped three out of four..... that may be a first. Spend some $ on a new Tq. wrench.

 

I was thinking about it for the head bolts. The tapping was pretty easy, but I'd sure like to avoid it whenever possible.

 

get a new torque wrench or have that one checked agianst a good one.

 

For future reference when drilling for a Helicoil install cover the drill bit with bearing grease and it will catch the debris instead of it falling all over the place. Also do this with the tap.

 

Thanks for the tip. I was told to do that with the tap, but not the drill bit. I guess I should have used some common sense. It worked like a charm with the tap, though. All the debris just stuck to it.