Feanor Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 So, while trying to replace old worn gaskets between my exhaust pipe flanges and the outtake on my EA81 (1983 BRAT) everything went fine except for one post won't tighten all the way anymore. I cut out new gaskets on my own, but because of that one post that won't tighten, I don't have a good seal (the car's way loud now ha ha). Are the threads in this hole on the bracket or are they on the actual engine block? (do these holes even go all the way into the engine block and not just the bracket?) I need to know so that I can decide whether it's better to buy the brackets off of somebody or to just do a helicoil and rethread the hole. What do you guys think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UraBUS09 Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 They thread into the cylinder heads. Helicoil is probly best bet, don't go to big. Go too deep and you'll see water/antifreeze come out of them... Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apintonut Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 Take it out and get the next size bolt and tap it to that no drilling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibreakstuff Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 While helicoils can work, timeserts or other proper steel inserts will hold better and last longer. Be careful not to drill too deep into the head too either way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bratdad Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 I actually cut threads into the steal flange and put in a short bolt w/ larger dia. as a temporary fix since the flange was tight against the head already. It only worked because 1 hole was still good and firmly attached to the head. When my son was ready to overhaul the engine, I did the correct fix and put heli-coils in the heads in the damaged holes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feanor Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 I ended up taking the brackets (or spacers or whatever you want to call them) off. I broke about three bolt heads in the process though after having to cut part of the spacers first so I could fit a socket on the bolts instead trying to wrestle with star drivers. When I got the sockets on (after having soaked the bolts in PB Blaster and heating them up with a torch) the bolt heads twisted right off leaving the rest in the holes in the engine. So I decided to forego the spacers and ended up extending my exhaust pipe to meet directly with the engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feanor Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 I did successfully do the helicoil though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibreakstuff Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 I absolutely loathe stripping EA exhaust studs.... For this reason, am doing inserts and 4 studs per head with my ea82t build. Even had some 4 bolt mica gaskets made with 2" fire ring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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