Vmax Black Ice-olator install problem/mistake/question
 

So after it sitting in my garage for a year and a half I finally installed my Ice-olator today. Unfortunately when putting it all back together my torque wrench didnt stop at 18 pounds and instead I busted the threads down in the hole on one of the 4 long bolts that go down through the plenum cover. Its the back left bolt. So now its just spinning in there. Should I be worried or will the other 5 bolts do the job? I'm kinda freakin out right now.

Pull apart. Maybe it is high enough you can use a pair of pliers to unscrew. If down below the lip, how far down? Can you get an easy out to it?

I got the bolt out. It just stripped the threads out of the hole. The bolt held up fine. Now I just cant tighten that bolt down. The other 5 are in with no problem. Do you think that will be enough?

I would definitely try and fix the striped threads, to be honest 5 bolts might do, but why chance it? Either tap the hole out and use a slightly larger bolt or use a helicoil. the helicoil should allow you to repair it and continue using the original hardware.

I have seen the term heli coil a few times in my panicked searching tonight. What is it and where can you buy one?

You can get them at auto parts and sometimes certain hardware stores, they may be labeled as a thread repair kit. Basically you take a drill and drill out the threads on the existing hole, then you take the tap which is properly sized for the helicoil and tap new threads into the hole. The helicoil is basically a coil of wire which you will then thread into the larger hole, it will lock in there and provide the proper threads on the inside for the original hardware.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFYa6sjhh_E

kinda a boring video but it shows you the basic steps, looks like you can buy the kit at certain walmarts to

Thanks for the info. I am leaving Tuesday on a 7 hour drive. I hope I can get this fixed before that. I havent test driven yet to even get to feel the difference from my ice-olator. I installed about 5 hours ago and I am getting ready to take it out in a little while. Its gonna be tough to enjoy knowing I am missing a bolt. I knew I shouldnt have tried this right before a big event.

haha I always do major mods right before I need the car, I cant tell you how many times I have had to wait for the autoparts store to open the morning before I go racing. I have an ls3 but I've seen a few threads where others have stripped out 1 of the bolts so i'm sure you would be safe driving with it if you cant fix it right away. Not sure if you have amazon prime but you can 1 day ship it for a few extra bucks if you do, I think this is the size you would need but make sure to double check.

http://www.amazon.com/Helicoil-5546-.../dp/B0002SREP4

Oh. Glad it was not the broken bolt. Helicoil should work for you. Let us know how it goes.

Solved it by replacing the stock bolt with a 160 mm bolt. I had good threads below the ones I broke. Ran the new bolt down in and was good as new.

Glad to know you got it fixed with a longer bolt.

That was going to be my suggestion. Glad you got it handled! :thumb:

Best regards,

Tyler
888-308-6007