Any backyard or professional mechanics?

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Hemispheres
@Hemispheres
10 Years1,000+ PostsTaurus

Comments: 744 · Posts: 2905 · Topics: 57
I recently developed an exhaust leak after reusing the exhaust mani gasket. I went to retorque and apparently I mixed up two of the mani studs. Despite them being the same pitch one is slighty crossthreaded or has warped/damaged threads. It will hold torque but only after turning 1/16th - q1/32nd of a revolution and deffo feels like its cutting into the aluminum threads.

I'm ordering new bolts and planning on chasing the threads, but I'm confused as to whether I should use a bottoming/plug tap or a tapered tap.
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iguessthatslife
@iguessthatslife
9 Years

Comments: 0 · Posts: 72 · Topics: 2
bottoming or plug should be fine if you are just cleaning up threads, tapered is mostly for starting. but if it's a through hole you can run it down deep enough to clean up the entire length of thread.
did you take the studs out of the block or something? maybe you got them in backwards ie. the end that was sticking out, vs the end that was originally in the engine.
you can get a tool at sears to rethread the studs, as long as it's between like 1/4" and 1/2" or something. the jaws are floating so it should pretty much handle any pitch including metric.
as for the hole, you'd probably have to get a special tap.
sorry, i would have replied sooner if i saw it
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Hemispheres
@Hemispheres
10 Years1,000+ PostsTaurus

Comments: 744 · Posts: 2905 · Topics: 57
Its the head. I'm not pulling it unless absolutely necessary. I've got everything I need except for the exhaust mani gasket. I called an engine shop and the owner recommended WD40 for the initi pass with the tapered tap, followed by a 3:1 mix id kerosene and trans fluid with the bottoming tap.

I'm holding off until I get both exhaust mani gaskets and new plugs/wires. She's coming up on 100k and is due for a tuneup anyways. It'll be easier with the manifolds off.


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iguessthatslife
@iguessthatslife
9 Years

Comments: 0 · Posts: 72 · Topics: 2
yep yep... wd-40, is there anything it can't do?

if you wanna get fancy, you could use some of this:

smells like cinamon, and the shit's like gold... i can never find it when i need it.
smells like cinamon, and the shit's like gold... i can never find it when i need it.
wd-40 is probably better than standard oil, i think the heavy viscosity of regular oil can inadequately prevent galling sometimes and then you might have an instant "oopsie" face. anything slippery is better than nothing if you are tapping a hole from scratch though... cleaning up threads dry isn't impossible, maybe a bit frowned upon. i'd say it depends on how screwed up the threads are

can't comment on kerosene, never used it for that purpose.

how'd you get the studs out, if you don't mind me asking?

if you did put them in the same end into the block, or were able to get something like this to work:



there may have just been some dirt in there...
either way it doesn't sound too serious, just a pain in the ass.
exhaust work sucks, but it looks like you've got the hard part done. good luck anyway man
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Hemispheres
@Hemispheres
10 Years1,000+ PostsTaurus

Comments: 744 · Posts: 2905 · Topics: 57
I haven't taken it apart again yet. Those are new studs, not the old ones.

The reason he recommends WD40 is its a mineral oil much like kerosene, it helps cut cleaner and leaves a like-factory finish on the aluminum. The transfluid will help trap the aluminum shavings.



Helicoil is a last resort before pulling the head. I should be fine, the threads are very fine so if a few rows are a little galled I've still got plenty for the new studs to bite into.

5/16x18 is the size and thread pitch.
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iguessthatslife
@iguessthatslife
9 Years

Comments: 0 · Posts: 72 · Topics: 2
well like i said, if you can't get your hands on some tap magic....
from what i know... usually when tapping, it's advisable to rotate one complete turn, reverse 1/4 turn (if you are using a four-flute tap) and periodically remove the tap completely to clean the flutes. but that's typically a clean hole/from scratch situation.
i've broken a 3/8-16 tap about an inch down into a hole on the way out because the flutes became clogged........ cleaned it as i thought was appropriate, but apparently wasn't enough.
spent the following 3 hours beating the heck out of it with a handful of sharp ass punches and a rather large hammer. fun times.
can't always rely on that though, i also ruined a part trying to beat out a tap a co-worker broke.
i think tapping just requires some tactility.... once you've broken a couple, you kinda get a feel for when to back off.
sounds like it shouldn't be too bad, at least it's not a through hole into the engine 😛
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HouseCleaning
@HouseCleaning
13 Years5,000+ PostsGemini

Comments: 348 · Posts: 5328 · Topics: 266
Posted by iguessthatslife
depends on the car. the bentley i had for one of my cars pretty much showed you how to make one from scratch, every drawing, schematic, you name it. they don't seem to have one available for my current car. i don't have a manual currently, so i guess i have my research cut out for me.
sounds like the factory service manual. haynes would say you might have lug nuts holding on the wheels
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LynxSA
@LynxSA
9 Years

Comments: 0 · Posts: 79 · Topics: 0
A bit late to the party, but judging from your pictures I would say those studs are off a GM car or a Ford. What do you own a GM 3.1 3.4 or 3.8? Maybe a Ford 4.6 or similar modular engine? Anyway, many times the nuts (locking nuts) oxidize on the stud, and the torque to remove them is so great, that you end up screwing the stud out of the head with nut still attached to it. When that happens I almost always just replace it with a new stud and nut. They are sold in a packet of about 8 at many auto parts retail chains. Costs about 12 bucks for the packet. Your biggest issue comes at installation time. Even though the entire stud came out of the head, there is a good chance the nut turned a bit on the stud during the initial removal process. When you go to reinstall said stud, it will screw all the way in and bottom out, but the nut will not be flush to the manifold (as it backed out some on the initial removal) and properly tighten it. This is where you either strip the threads or break the stud off, because the nut is seized regardless of it slightly backing out.

You were fortunate you didn't break a stud as this means drilling in a confined space which may not be possible with the head in the vehicle. As far as tapping goes, any tap is fine. Use WD40 or similar, and if you are worried about going in too far, simply stick a thin screwdriver or pick in the hole, and mark off how deep it went in. Then just use some electrical tape or paint, w/e and mark the same depth on your tap, and use it as a guide to stop once you go the correct distance.
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HouseCleaning
@HouseCleaning
13 Years5,000+ PostsGemini

Comments: 348 · Posts: 5328 · Topics: 266
Posted by idgaf2
Posted by HouseCleaning
Posted by idgaf2
Posted by HouseCleaning
you probably should of had one of these you fool

Image Not Found


i know, right....

Image Not Found

my luck is bound to run out eventually
😕


\why are you always fucking confused—

do you need some fucking omega 3- fatty acids——

Or maybe some fucking sleep??

click to expand

😕 😕
Profile picture of HouseCleaning
HouseCleaning
@HouseCleaning
13 Years5,000+ PostsGemini

Comments: 348 · Posts: 5328 · Topics: 266
Posted by idgaf2
Posted by HouseCleaning
Posted by idgaf2
Posted by HouseCleaning
Posted by idgaf2
Posted by HouseCleaning
you probably should of had one of these you fool

Image Not Found


i know, right....

Image Not Found

my luck is bound to run out eventually
😕


\why are you always fucking confused—

do you need some fucking omega 3- fatty acids——

Or maybe some fucking sleep??


😕 😕
that's some deep shit bro

click to expand

how many accounts do you have floating around
Profile picture of HouseCleaning
HouseCleaning
@HouseCleaning
13 Years5,000+ PostsGemini

Comments: 348 · Posts: 5328 · Topics: 266
Posted by idgaf2
Posted by HouseCleaning
Posted by idgaf2
Posted by HouseCleaning
Posted by idgaf2
Posted by HouseCleaning
Posted by idgaf2
Posted by HouseCleaning
you probably should of had one of these you fool

Image Not Found


i know, right....

Image Not Found

my luck is bound to run out eventually
😕


\why are you always fucking confused—

do you need some fucking omega 3- fatty acids——

Or maybe some fucking sleep??


😕 😕
that's some deep shit bro


how many accounts do you have floating around


i don't know man.

i can't take thit shit anymore.

did i really make those last two posts—

Image Not Found

god i hope i'm not developing mpd

click to expand

multiple user account disorder?