How to fix stripped bolt holes in aluminum head

[@Gar99]

You can remove the tap and use a big nut over the guide and tread a bolt and nut into the guide and then tighten the nut to pull the guide out

[@johnnyjohn8073]

I had the exact same thing happen to me while torquing the cylinder heads last year on my newly rebuilt engine, also a 3vze. I discovered that the stock cam bolts only go halfway down the total amount of the thread. There is still the same amount of thread past the bolt. I simply got a bolt that is longer and it used up the remaining virgin thread so I knew it was gonna be nice and tight since that thread was never used before. I actually replaced all the cam bolts on the right cylinder so that they can all torque properly. It worked great & I'm still enjoying my 4runner. So before doing all this work, I recommend people to first check how much thread is left inside. The hole & thread may simply go in deeper & will simply take a longer bolt.

[@robertplant9694]

Thank you!! I followed your instructions on my 22re distributor bolt and it worked perfectly! Got some tap magic and it made everything easier!

[@yoopermania]

We're glad if we can help. It's a tough world out there and if we can help each other, maybe we can all have a little better life.

[@RossWilliamsDC]

Exactly what I need to do on my 3VZE. Any prayer of doing this with the engine in the car? Of course, it's the camshaft end cap near the firewall that stripped. Great video. Thanks.

[@jhurley2005]

I have a 3VZ-FE, would these sizes work for me too? Would it also allow me to use the original bolts?

[@jameswalker5294]

Your video was very helpful.. Thanks.

[@markkristofferloredo3638]

What size helicoil did you use? Was that an M12?

[@t_buzz9410]

Hello, thanks for posting this. I have a 2000 4Runner with a 3.4. When replacing the camshaft plug and getting to 12 lbs torque, my lower bolt kept spinning. I pulled it out and with it came some aluminum threads. I'm searching everywhere trying to figure out what to do now.

[@DrewDiddy7703]

T_ Buzz Having a similar problem now, might be a bit late, but did u find a solution to your problem? Seems the helicoil kit that matches my threads isn’t big enough to make new threads.

[@johnnyjohn8073]

@@DrewDiddy7703 You probably already did something about it. Check to see how deep the hole goes down the cylinder head. if it is deeper past the total length of the bolt with your camshaft cap installed, check how much deeper the remainder of the thread goes in. You may simply be able to fix your problem by using a longer bolt. That's what I did & I didn't have to do all this work. Funny thing is that it also happened on a 3vze engine like on this video. I think it may be a common problem with the 2nd generation 4Runners. The camshaft bolts are simply too small, not long enough to use the remainder of the thread that goes in deeper so the thread strips on a 30 year old vehicle that most likely has had the engine rebuilt 2 previous times or has had the head gasket replacement 3 maybe 4 times.

[@johndoogan3712]

The real fun and games comes when the same repair job is performed with the engine still in the car?.

[@christsrevenge8030]

Faaaakkk just cracked cylinder head on 84 xt250 at one of the cam cap holes. Deep crack...

[@coppersworld2054]

Oh dam....I for one aint buying that.