Bubba’s been at it- BBC 454 head bolt

Help!

I would appreciate the forum's perspective on potential solutions to what I've found in my 72 454. 

Bubba, it seems, stripped out one of the head bolt threads (7/16) in the block, drilled and tapped it for a 1/2 bolt,and then drilled the hole in the cylinder head to pass the 1/2 bolt.   

Why they wouldn't have helicoiled the block to accept a 7/16 bolt,is anyones guess. I am in the process of yanking the engine, and of course, until I pull the head off, I'm not positive of what I'm facing.

As I have a set of Edelbrock Alum. heads to install, and I don't want to drill the bolt hole in the head to pass the 1/2 bolt, I was hoping to repair the block to accept a 7/16 bolt again. I looked around, and all the threaded inserts I found would require drilling and tapping the boss in the block for a 9/16 bolt. I also looked into a stud with 1/2 threads on one end and the rest of the body 7/16, with 7/16 thredas on the other end. Haven't found anything hardened, yet.

Next up is a helicoil?

I would be particularly interested in WWKSD? ( What Would Ken Styer do?)

NJ BB Ken

I'd go with the helicoil.  They are very reliable.

Mark

 

There is available, a steel insert that requires a much larger hole than a Heli-coil, but is much better than a heli-coil. I can't think of the name of the Co. that produces them(brain farts, don't ya know). This may work out for your situation, if the hole in the block is already too big for a regular h-coil. These inserts look like a short bolt, with no head, and a threaded hole in the middle of them. You use a bolt, with a nut tightened down on the insert, to screw it into the hole. They work really well. I'll pull some out of the tool box tommorrow, and get you the name, unless someone here knows of them
Curse you BUBBA!

Go to www.keensert.com. They should have an application that will work for you. I have used them hundreds of times on air and space craft. Much more "meat" than a helicoil and easier to install. They require a couple of special hand tools, but nothing expensive, to install. Hope this helps.
Scott

Here's a clickable LINK for Ranger3's suggestion (thanx Scott!)

I have managed to lose track of the contact info on the inserts I have, but I think it is.......
This one. These look like the ones I use. The ones I have are "self-tapping", so no tap is needed. Hopefully, one of these products will save your engine! Adams' Apple38587.7390625