While installing my SE stage 1 air cleaner I found out that my torque wrench does not work anymore and I stripped out the two top bolt hole that screws into each cylinder head. It looks like these holes go all the way into each cylinder, is this correct? Can these be tapped out? Can it be fixed without changing the cylinder head? Somebody please give me good news?

 

Helicoil might work.

 

Google heli-coil. They are life savers for striped threads.

 

I'm concerned that if the hole goes all the way into the cylinder, trying to keep out any metal shavings while re tapping or drilling out for a Helicoil. Does this hole go all the way into the cylinder?

 

Good news is they don't go into the cylinders. They go to the breather block in the rocker box to vent. You would not be able to tap to a larger bolt as they have to have the hole in them to breath properly. heli-coil or new heads is it as far as I know, but I could be wrong.

 

The breather holes go all the way into the head breather system, not into the cylinder.

If you drill & tap for a helicoil, you do not need to remove the head but its recommended that you remove the upper rocker box cover & vacuum out all the metal filings in the passages.

Unless you're good at this kind of stuff, it may be best to take it to a shop. If you mess up drilling or tapping the holes, you could further damage the head casting.

Just my opinion

 

No...does not go into cylinder...part of the vent system...drill,tap,helicoil,...blow out hole with compressed if you have it.

 

mine too, especially since you stripped the second one

 

FastAire gave you the correct response for your problem.

Now I'll add my two-cents... Torque wrenches can be dangerous in the wrong hands!!! There is absolutely no reason that a torque wrench should be necessary for changing an air cleaner. Torque wrenches have such a long handle that the leverage supplied can be catastrophic in the wrong hands as you have just discovered. If you would have just tightened the bolts with a conventional wrench you more than likely wouldn't be in the predicament you are now.

As for the helicoil repair... definitely have someone else do it. Stripping the bolts that you did gives an indication of your mechanical apptitude.

I'm not trying to be a smartass... I'm just calling it as I see it.

 

I used to have a car with aluminum heads. By the time I finally sold it, all 8 spark plug holes had heli-coils. Work great.