Was sticking the cossie back together today after fitting new lifters, and have managed to pull a cam bearing stud out of the head

Was using a torque wrench, and it felt like it wasnt going to make the torque, so I stopped, and noticed that the end of the stud was higher than its neighbour

Spoke to Stu (Advice MUCH appreciated!! - Ta V Much) Who told me not to panic, and to get a helicoil fitted.

Checked on the others, and there's defo at least one more on its way too

Cant find anyone to come out and do the helicoils for me. The local engine builder is fully booked for 3 weeks too! Found another guy, and he only wants 8 quid per coil, which dont seem too bad!

So the choices are:

1) Forget about National Day Remove the head, get the work done and aim to be ready for croft in 3 weeks time. Gonna cost me for another Gp A gasket, studs etc...

2) have the car towed down there, and have him try and do it in situ. Thing is I cant see how he would be able to drill the hole out square with the head on the car and I'm concerned about swarf getting everywhere... Try and get it ready for national day, but I would want some miles on it before going far away from home with it, and I only have 4 more nights to work on it


Pretty pissed off like!!! Looks like my car wont be at antional day!!!


Neil.

 

Did one in Situ mate. The swarf was a real problem. Sorry this is a little negative just being honest.

 

As I suspected....

Dont be daft mate there's no negative or positive, shit just happens and we have to do what is necessary

Neil

 

Fucking hell!! 2 Teessiders having serious aggro together!
Spooky!

 

I've done 3 in situ on mine!! Tape some rags round the hole and use a hoover!! Take 10 mins!!

 

LOL my work mate hit a concrete block on friday (the 13th) and I discovered my cam bearings are scored on the same day....

Now this!!!

You're camping the same place as me and the youth etc arent you?

Neil.

 

Yep,we're there Fri & Sat,hopefully.
Fucking Cossies,don't you just love 'em?

 

As has been said, doing in situ is not prob.

Jus tow it down there.

Did the same to mine a month ago, bloody annoying but at the end of the day just cost a bit of my time and £7 for the helicoil

 

See you there then! Ill be the one NOT in the magenta 4x4

KJC - thinking about what you said. If it were me doing it, I'd have a go, but the car would have to be left at this guys place and I'm not sure I trust him to clean up as well as I would

Neil.

 

just do it yourself helicoil kits are cheap and very easy to fit

 

Neil man - are you the unluckiest person alive?

Seems to come in waves

By the way, no Croft for me mate...........

 

Where from gus?
We want to get neil's cos ready for nat day and we ould feel safer doing it ourselves, his engine his swarf so too speak!

cheers
steve

 

BTTT

Can get the kits for £26 delivered, but cant find them locally

Neil.

 

I've got exactly the same problem mate!

https://passionford.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=67646

Good luck with yours

Dave

 

Well, managed to borrow a coil kit off my mate's workplace.

Fitted the two helicoils - they got the 20nm torque no probs, BUT, two more studs pulled

Coiled those two

Waiting on some new cam cap nuts and cam seals from Ford tomorrow, gonna box her up and stick a belt on and see what happens!

Dont wanna jinx the operation, but it looks like the magenta moneypit might see National Day yet!

Neil.

 

Nice one mate glad you are nearly sorted
Arn't Helicoil kits cool

 

sorry to be stupid but anyone what to explain what a helicoil kit does??

 

Simple but effective mate!
A helicoil is like a spring to look at which you screw into the buggered threaded hole and then screw the bolt into it!
Works a treat

 

sounds cool

 

Here you go mate here is my Cossie fooked cam cover bolt hole kit

 

neil let me know about croft mate, were happy to refund but would rather be able to offer the place elsewhere rather than be one down like hope it all works out mate

 

Glad you got sorted mate! Me too!

 

Matt - Don't worry about Croft

It's National Day thats looking shaky

Car should be ready by Croft: If the worst comes to the worst, the £300 Astra will be on track

plynchy - Good News!!!

Neil.

 

fair play neil

 

Dont worry neil - bring some tools along to nat day and me and watty will fix it along with your tent ROFLOL

 

Well done Neil, was it hard to do? How did you drill straight? Did a lot of swarf come off and how did you prevent it from going everywhere?

Cheers,

Dave

 

Well - it runs!

Been out for a gentle run tonight with the youth

Gonna take it to work tomorrow then give it a proper once over tomorrow night before I decide whether or not to take it to Dono

Dave: we didnt drill the holes out at all - the studs are 8mm OD, and the drill with the helicoils was 8.3mm, so we just tapped them out given the head is only alloy.

My mate made me up a drill guide to help get the holes straight (like a cam cap only taller and steel) but we didnt need it as it tapped a treat with a bit of oil on the tap

Coils are a cinch to fit!

Had to tweak one of the studs as it wasnt 100% square, but it seems ok

I used polythene to cover up the inlet cam, then carefully taped up the entire deck of the head, covering everything except the studs. Then I swept all the swarf off the side of the engine!

Should really have taken some pics to show you, but I wasnt thinking

Just imagine a flat surface COVERED in gaffer tape and you're halfway there. Also covered the oil feed galleries to the cam bearings first to be double-sure

Just remember to oil the cams and caps up real well on assembly so they dont pick up on the bearings!

Neil.

 

It does run and very quiet aswell now, and even better it goes sideways!!

glad we got there in the end, didn't fancy having to race the astra on saturday!!

steve

 

When referring to the astra, make sure to use its proper name - the '300 quid astra' to make sure people dont actually think i give a flying fuck about the car lol



Cheers for the extra pair of hands steve

Neil.

 

Excellent glad you've got it sorted.

The bloke i'm using is going to use CVH rocker studs, because they have got a triangulated M10 bottom with an M8 stud at the top. It's a very weird looking stud

Wish me luck!

Dave

 

The only thing that put me off the CVH stud method was time - i.e. I didnt have any to get the caps machined

Neil.

 

 

I think they only need a slight 'tickle' to accomodate the lip round the middle of the stud, with them studs in there i'd hope they will never come out again