Hey all -
I replaced my valve cover gasket, and all but one fastener is tightening. The rear passenger side (bottom left of the valve cover) stud is spinning in the head and I can't get it to tighten against the nut on the valve cover. It also has some wiggle/play when I move it by hand. Would blue/red Loctite do the trick or am I in for much more than that?
Thanks
Valve cover stud won't tighten
Valve cover stud won't tighten
1979 BMW 528i 4-speed manual
Re: Valve cover stud won't tighten
Thread locker won't work. Locktite does have a product for this, Stripped thread repair. That might be worth a try before getting a helicoil kit.
Threading and rethreading into aluminum isn't great, especially the 6MM bolts which are fine threaded, not that you had a choice in the matter, and curiously E3s before E12 and E28s after used studs, not bolts for the valve cover.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/lct-28654
Threading and rethreading into aluminum isn't great, especially the 6MM bolts which are fine threaded, not that you had a choice in the matter, and curiously E3s before E12 and E28s after used studs, not bolts for the valve cover.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/lct-28654
Mike W.
1980 528i, 3.5 euro, 5 speed conversion
1981 528i, 3.6, Recaros and more. Project
1998 328is, quick and efficient, but not satisfying
2000 528iit, Vacation mobile/wife's grocery getter
1980 528i, 3.5 euro, 5 speed conversion
1981 528i, 3.6, Recaros and more. Project
1998 328is, quick and efficient, but not satisfying
2000 528iit, Vacation mobile/wife's grocery getter
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- Posts: 1058
- Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:50 pm
Re: Valve cover stud won't tighten
JB Weld has a similar epoxy thread kit that might not be as expensive. It worked well on a small stripped bolt hole on a brake caliper on my TR3. the kit should be an OK repair for a valve cover but I would not use it on a critical bolt.
1976 530i. BMW 59 Triumph TR3A(rolling resto). 67 Triumph TR4A(salvageable). 86 900S Winter car
Re: Valve cover stud won't tighten
Well I fixed it!
Long story short, previous owner striped insert out of aluminum head, and either 1) exposed crappy M8 x 1.25 threads or 2) tapped his own, then used a custom M8 to M6 stud to clamp on. Near solution, but not long lasting! The M8 threads were also stripped to hell, I could only grab one or two threads that ended up stripping when I tried to go hand tight. A drill + tap to M10 x 1.25 and a key insert later we’re back to an M6 hole that can actually hold some torque.
Long story short, previous owner striped insert out of aluminum head, and either 1) exposed crappy M8 x 1.25 threads or 2) tapped his own, then used a custom M8 to M6 stud to clamp on. Near solution, but not long lasting! The M8 threads were also stripped to hell, I could only grab one or two threads that ended up stripping when I tried to go hand tight. A drill + tap to M10 x 1.25 and a key insert later we’re back to an M6 hole that can actually hold some torque.
1979 BMW 528i 4-speed manual