06-03-2007, 12:20 AM
Okay, so the old girl is about ready to enter the competition arena of Auto-X and etc., and I decided I wanted to "clean up" the Cam Cover and related top side aluminum in the engine bay. Set up my bench grinder with the fine brass cleaning wheel to take the grunge off the top of the Cam Cover Bolts and washers, dragged out the correct Allen socket and extension etc., and started pulling out the cam cover bolts.
Absolutely no problem until I get to the 3rd one back on the bottom of the cover. I gave it a couple of light "wake up taps" like all of the others, with a dead blow composite hammer, and then put the wrench to it. It backed off just like all of the others, so I take it out, clean it up and go to reinstall it...
The Bolt goes directly to the bottom of the threaded hole, and gives absolutely NO indication that there was ever a thread in that Hole!!! Spins like a top!!! So I pull it out, and remove the seal and washer, and try probing the thread hole with the bolt...absolutely NOTHING! I get the shop light and I can see the top couple of threads, but all is dark below that...
So I'm standing there examining this strange Bolt, and the threads on the Bolt are perfect! No sign of any cross threading or damage whatsoever... except... they look especially oily! Unlike the other Bolts I pulled, this one has what appears to be a lot of engine oil on the threads...
So let's have some educated guesses here... Where did the threads go that obviously had been holding this Cam Cover Bolt in for at least since a year ago when my mechanic replaced the Cam Cover Seal???
Did my tapping on the bolt cause the threads to somehow shear off and fall into the head/engine? Do the Cam Cover bolt holes go all the way through the cylinder head? I didn't feel any bottom to this one.
And the BIG question...is it possible to Helicoil threads of that size??? Keeping in mind that it is a bit deep thru the Cam Cover... of course, the Cover could be pulled if absolutely necessary. I have not done a Helicoil before, so advice is welcomed, IF this is the correct solution...
Edit: Okay, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO WORK ON YOUR 968 AFTER CONSUMING TWO (TALL) MYERS DARK RUM AND TONICS (with lime)!!!!
Apparently, I had the Cam Cover Seal caught on the Shoulder of the cam hole, not allowing the Bolt to contact the threaded portion of the hole...
D'oh!!! Went back to it this afternoon (with a much clearer head!) and attempted to "test fit" a Bolt... went right in, and began to tighten up exactly as it should!!! WTF!!! Took it out, and inserted it thru the Washer and Seal, and put it back in just like all of the others...smooth as silk! Okay, now I know why there were rules against drinking on the job! Sorry for the confusion, folks! Since I didn't get an answer, I guessed you all were as surprised as I was with this issue (or NON issue, as it turned out!).
Okay, thattttt's All, Folks!!! Hope you had a great weekend!
Absolutely no problem until I get to the 3rd one back on the bottom of the cover. I gave it a couple of light "wake up taps" like all of the others, with a dead blow composite hammer, and then put the wrench to it. It backed off just like all of the others, so I take it out, clean it up and go to reinstall it...
The Bolt goes directly to the bottom of the threaded hole, and gives absolutely NO indication that there was ever a thread in that Hole!!! Spins like a top!!! So I pull it out, and remove the seal and washer, and try probing the thread hole with the bolt...absolutely NOTHING! I get the shop light and I can see the top couple of threads, but all is dark below that...
So I'm standing there examining this strange Bolt, and the threads on the Bolt are perfect! No sign of any cross threading or damage whatsoever... except... they look especially oily! Unlike the other Bolts I pulled, this one has what appears to be a lot of engine oil on the threads...
So let's have some educated guesses here... Where did the threads go that obviously had been holding this Cam Cover Bolt in for at least since a year ago when my mechanic replaced the Cam Cover Seal???
Did my tapping on the bolt cause the threads to somehow shear off and fall into the head/engine? Do the Cam Cover bolt holes go all the way through the cylinder head? I didn't feel any bottom to this one.
And the BIG question...is it possible to Helicoil threads of that size??? Keeping in mind that it is a bit deep thru the Cam Cover... of course, the Cover could be pulled if absolutely necessary. I have not done a Helicoil before, so advice is welcomed, IF this is the correct solution...
Edit: Okay, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO WORK ON YOUR 968 AFTER CONSUMING TWO (TALL) MYERS DARK RUM AND TONICS (with lime)!!!!
Apparently, I had the Cam Cover Seal caught on the Shoulder of the cam hole, not allowing the Bolt to contact the threaded portion of the hole...
D'oh!!! Went back to it this afternoon (with a much clearer head!) and attempted to "test fit" a Bolt... went right in, and began to tighten up exactly as it should!!! WTF!!! Took it out, and inserted it thru the Washer and Seal, and put it back in just like all of the others...smooth as silk! Okay, now I know why there were rules against drinking on the job! Sorry for the confusion, folks! Since I didn't get an answer, I guessed you all were as surprised as I was with this issue (or NON issue, as it turned out!).
Okay, thattttt's All, Folks!!! Hope you had a great weekend!