Ever helicoil a spark plug hole in aluminum heads?

... and screw it up?

I removed a plug from a VW and a helicoil came out with it.  I should have just duck buttered some Lok-Tite and put it back.  Nope, Mr. I'm Smarter Than A Block of Aluminum decided to run a repair tap down and put in a new helicoil.  Great.  Now the repair needs repair.  A kit is offered to un-berkeley the berkeley up, it's $343 without inserts.

Question:  Do I spring for the repair kit, bring it to a shop to have the hole welded up for another M-14X1.25 tap or go for another head?

Suggestions encouraged.

Dan

Time-sert. 

Will be a permanent fix.

Second.  Any aluminum engine guy will tell you, Time-serts are a much better way to go.

You should be able to rent a kit from someone.

Will a standard kit have the oversized tap?  I just hate dropping $350 for a one time event.

What kind of engine?

Time-Serts are used all the time as a permanent repair on Ford mod motors that like to spit out plugs.

We used a kit from NAPA, I think it was,  used inserts.  Worked well. 

914Driver said:

Will a standard kit have the oversized tap?  I just hate dropping $350 for a one time event.

The standard kit won't have the oversized tap. I measured a standard kit and the OD of the tap is 15.74mm, OD of the insert is 15.5mm.

Call a local VW shop, they must own a kit.

Porsche 2.0 litre.

Got a kit way back with a bunch of solid inserts and a reamer/tap tool thing and it's saved three heads so far.

Calling a VW shop and saying 914 is like calling a motorcycle repair shop (not brand specific) and saying BMW.  Nope, won't touch 'em.

Gonna eat the $400.

iceracer said:

We used a kit from NAPA, I think it was,  used inserts.  Worked well. 

Was this a loan a tool?

In reply to 914Driver :

How much would a replacement cylinder head cost?

42 gray hairs and a small ulcer.

Woody said:

In reply to 914Driver :

How much would a replacement cylinder head cost?

914Driver said:

Porsche 2.0 litre.

$$, if you can find a head. 

VW shop will say we do not work 914's. 

Porsche shop will tell you our guy that knew about 914's is dead, or disabled from carpal tunnel syndrome caused by adjusting the valves.

Best I found is $2k/pair. Pelican doesn't carry them.

Seems to be a very typical problem.

When I ran into this with the formula car I pulled the heads and a local machine shop installed 'proper' inserts. I think it was something like $150 an insert. Can't remember if they also pinned them, but they assured me they wouldn't come out again.

Replacement cylinder heads are just kicking the problem down the road, steel inserts (not helicoils) are usually the way to go. I actually may still have a spare set of inserts without the tools though, question is how long it would take me to find them.

Given the value of these heads and the age of the aluminum I would fill the area by welding and drill/tap new threads.

Or just put a suby motor in.  If I still had a 914 it would have a 4 cam 2.5 in it.

Looks like nice kit.

In reply to 914Driver :

Potential cylinder head donor in NY:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/498649454308708/

Jeez, when my Quantum spit a plug out, the kit to fix it was like $20 or 30.

Tap, thread in the sleeve, swedge/peen it out, blow the chips out of the cylinderz insert plug, move on with life.

Yeah, that's a "normal" fix, my problem is the fix failed, need to go bigger diameter fix or another head. 

I use the word Helicoil though I know technically it's not correct.  Time-Sert doesn't roll off the tongue the same way.