Helicoil vanos to head bolt hole

[Arinb12]

So even though I religiously use a torque wrench and check my calibration (crudely) every week, somehow I've still managed to strip out the hole in the head for the vanos mounting. It brought out the entire threading with the bolt so now I need to fix it

could I use a helicoil kit but leave the vanos in place.

The vanos hole is definitely bigger than 6mm and probably the 6.3mm drill bit which is supplied for the helicoil. So therefore using the hole as a guide to keep the drill straight as I drill. Then tap the hole that's in the block and fit the helicoil into the block?

If smaller obviously ill need to strip down but in the case that it's bigger, I can't see any issue using the hole as a guide right?


Secondly could I fit a stud and then use a nut to fix the vanos on rather than a bolt, it will reduce issues I assume as when tightening there is just a pull on the threads rather than a twist and pull with a bolt?

[thegenius46m]

I had mine timeserted but vanos was already out.

[Arinb12]

I had mine timeserted but vanos was already out.

Was it easy to do in situ?

Did they use a 90 degree drill etc or did you pull the front end off?

[eacmen]

When i did this I used timesert with the vanos off. Even with the vanos off it was a pita with the rad in place. Need a low profile right angle drill to do it right.

[lemoose]

Couple years ago i snapped half the bolt in the same spot. George Hill managed to remove the remainder of the bolt and rethread this for me but the vanos was already off and the front end had to come off

[George Hill]

Definitiely Timesert and yes you can use the Vanos itself as a drill guide.

[eacmen]

I just remembered. I ended up using the drill bit by hand because I couldn’t get the electric drill in there with the rad installed. Took my time and it came out great.

[George Hill]

90* drill or take the front end off

[Arinb12]

I just remembered. I ended up using the drill bit by hand because I couldn’t get the electric drill in there with the rad installed. Took my time and it came out great.

With a hand attachment? Got a pic of what you used?

[Arinb12]

Definitiely Timesert and yes you can use the Vanos itself as a drill guide.

I.e. I can leave the vanos in and drill only or tap too if the vanos hole has enough clearance?

[George Hill]

Yes, leave the vanos unit on, that'll also help keep the metal shavings out.

But you'll have to remove it to tap it and install the time sert. The timesert will go "underneath" the dowel.

[Cubieman]

I have 2 of the 90° deals at work, the lower photo shows a Dewalt branded product, right by my thumb it's threaded so you can put a small hand hold in, handy as hell.

[Arinb12]

Yes, leave the vanos unit on, that'll also help keep the metal shavings out.

But you'll have to remove it to tap it and install the time sert. The timesert will go "underneath" the dowel.

Or I could use a helicoil? Then no need to remove at all right or still need to remove to tap?

[eacmen]

With a hand attachment? Got a pic of what you used?

Timesert kit came with a drill bit that fits in a tap wrench.

I also have 90 deg drill bit attachment but I didn’t like the lack of control you get when using it. Last thing you want is to let the drill bit catch the aluminum while drilling and marr it. Slow and steady with the drill bit by hand and you can’t mess it up.

Personally I would remove VANOS to make sure you countersink the insert flush with the head (if using timesert).

[George Hill]

Or I could use a helicoil? Then no need to remove at all right or still need to remove to tap?

You have to remove the dowel to tap the threads for either option, then reinstall the dowel once the thread repair insert is installed, this requires removing the vanos unit.

I would not install a helicoil even if it meant fixing the car today vs waiting to order the time sert kit (But I keep kits from M5-M14 in stock for this reason).