JB Weld on accessory bolt studs in aluminum heads?

[0xDEADBEEF]

You don't have to put a helicoil in unless you need to keep the same bolt size. Just tap it for a larger size.

 

[JeremyNH]

You don't have to put a helicoil in unless you need to keep the same bolt size. Just tap it for a larger size.

You need a 3/8" bolt to clear the bracket channels. Three of them in each bracket. A larger bolt won't do.

 

[0xDEADBEEF]

I once filled a hole with JB weld metal putty and tapped that. LOL (Non-critical part)

I've also just red loctite the snot out of it.

 

[GoToGuy]

Use a small " square" to keep drill bit centered and perpendicular. Use new quality drill bit. You can drill slow, it's aluminum. Helicoil is an acceptable and preferred method.
The heads are a good choice, the decision not to use a better method for hardware attachment than bare aluminum could have been better.
There are high quality adhesives available, Hy-Sol , is one I've used. The last time was to attach " VG's " on turbine Beechcraft, 300 plus mph. That would be probably a permanent fix. Good luck.

 

[L31MaxExpress]

I bought the accessory studs that are usually used 1 per head from GM and used them on all the acessory head bolt holes in my van. Saves wear and tear on the aluminum holes.

 

[Hipster]

Timesert or helicoil. Hokey repairs tend to let loose when you're out in the middle of nowhere.

 

[L31MaxExpress]

Timesert or helicoil. Hokey repairs tend to let loose when you're out in the middle of nowhere.

TImesert or helicoil then put the stud in that hole. Personally I would stud all the holes as I did.

Biggest shock I had with a Helicoil once was it held in place on a 3400 rocker arm bolt. Thought I was about to have to pull the head. Ended up helicoiling the bolt hole and the engine ran until the car was totaled.

 

[JeremyNH]

I bought the accessory studs that are usually used 1 per head from GM and used them on all the acessory head bolt holes in my van. Saves wear and tear on the aluminum holes.

Yeah, if I was smart I would have replaced them before I tried to install the shortened bolts. But since I'm not I didn't have the thought until after. $5 and 15 minutes at a local boneyard and I got 6 new (to me, most definitely not new to the earth) ones. I'm keeping a set of spares for the L31 that's now on the stand that the 390 used to be on. I'm waiting to hear from AFR regarding how deep I can go with for some 9/16-12 helicoil inserts. I need 0.52" for the insert and a few hundredths more to allow for threads and the bit point. I didn't strip the bolt holes just felt the threads start to go and stopped. The studs still come in and go out with the 1/4" socket just fine so threaded all the way to the back. But the marginal one doesn't bite much when I try the bolt so not going to push it. I only took the others to 25 ft-lbs after experience with the first so they're still tight. I should have enough of the thread metal left for JB Weld to bite if I need to go that route based on how AFR responds. But based on the comparison video posted on Youtube the helicoils are clearly the way to go for a one and done solution.

 

[454cid]

If the stud is holding now, would Loctite be enough to keep it in place, without being permanent?

 

[L31MaxExpress]

If the stud is holding now, would Loctite be enough to keep it in place, without being permanent?

I will also add that I have run the L31 brackets sans 1 bolt per side before. LT1 I swapped into a TBI truck with TBI on it. The bolt he has weakened is not a huge deal.