I had a problem with a derby cover screw on my 2010. I was changing the bolts to 12pt. polished s.s and when I removed one of the long ones it felt sloppy coming out and the new one did not feel right going in. I bet the MOCO overtightened it when it was originally installed and weakened the threads. ANY ADVISE.. just put it in until it felt tight. No way it will torque to specs... Can I use a helicoil?

 

Yes, use a helicoil or time sert. But I would run a brush with some loctite thread cleaner in the hole and see if you get threads or just loctite out.

 

If you know the mechanics in the back room well enough...they will tell you that it is more common than you think to find stripped out screws and bolts. I happened to bump one of the main transmission-to-engine bolts on mine one day and found it loose. I pulled it out and found some glue on the bolt where some a-hole along the assembly line had stripped it out and glued it back in. I pinned a stud back in that hole with a set-screw from the side and put a nut on it until I had an occasion to do some transmission work where I could get a drill in that hole and install an insert. This was one of the 4 main bolts that holds the engine to the transmission and these clowns had glued it in!

Makes you wonder just what all is glued-in along the assembly line.