Over tighten valve cover bolts

[Toshima]

Well today I was changing the valve cover. I should of got out the fsm for tq spec but it was to late. I over tighten the valve cover bolts the front 2. I think the others are ok but not the front 2. The way it looks it seems that the 2 bolts screw down to the front timing chain cover. Am I right. Also what if I tightened stripped the other one would the head bo no good. Or could I re thread them for a little lager bolt. I have a spare head and timing chain cover. But I would rather not switch them out if I dont have to. Please let me know thanks.

[DALAZ_68]

Well today I was changing the valve cover. I should of got out the fsm for tq spec but it was to late. I over tighten the valve cover bolts the front 2. I think the others are ok but not the front 2. The way it looks it seems that the 2 bolts screw down to the front timing chain cover. Am I right. Also what if I tightened stripped the other one would the head bo no good. Or could I re thread them for a little lager bolt. I have a spare head and timing chain cover. But I would rather not switch them out if I dont have to. Please let me know thanks.

tap the bolts...

[Vegascorbin]

Insert Heli-Coil's. Not that hard to do just be sure when you drill that you keep the shavings out of the motor.

[Ajax]

Just the valve cover? or the head itself? If its just the valve cover, its not nearly as big a deal- you can probably just tap it for larger bolts.

[480sx]

The valve cover does not hold itself onto the heads. The bolt goes through the valve cover and into the heads. You stripped the heads. What you really need to do is determine how bad the threads are stripped. If you were really... Forceful, then chances are you need to use a helicoil. If you stopped turning before you did a crap load of damage, then you might be able to get away with a tap and dye set + low TQ on the bolt.

[zads27]

I don't think missing 2 valve cover bolts is gonna make it leak

[480sx]

Depends entirely on where the bolts are.

[Toshima]

Its the 2 closest to the radiator. It looks like the screw down to the front timing chain cover. The bolts still screw down but they keep spinning.

[TheRipper]

I did that to a few bolts of mine, but it never leaked oil anywhere. I'd say get it fixed, but from my own experience...it wasn't too too big of a deal

[TheOne]

since its just the front cover bolts, i wouldn't worry about it too much, but you can always just put a heli-coil in it.

[guyaverage]

Tap it out to 1/4-inch and get some bolts from Home Depot or wherever. I stripped out about 5 or 6 of my bolts and it took maybe 10 minutes to fix all of them.

[compression]

The bolts that hold on the valve cover are special OEM only shoulder bolts, They are designed to be tightened down until the shoulder touches the head (or timing cover). They designed them this way so that the valve cover would not be squeezed too hard against the head.Heli-Coil the holes (I think they are M6x1.0, or maybe M8x1.25) and buy new OEM valve cover bolts and use some finess next time you tighten them down.IF you use regular bolts (non-shouldered) then as you wrench them down, if you go too far, you can snap break the tabs off the valve cover.

[Spiffy240]

sorry to bring back this thread but...

i did it to my first bolt and when i realized that, i put down the stupid f-ing torque wrench and did it by hand.... im so pissed b/c i just got the torque wrench and i hate it already....

i dont think i stripped it too hard so i think i should just tap the bolts but, i know this might sound dumb, but what does "tapping the bolt" mean