wesalexleft
Well-known member
I have a 5/16"-18 bolt for an intake manifold on a ford 5.0 V8 with cast iron head. The manifold is aluminum. One bolt failed in place due to corrosion/coolant damage at one corner of the manifold (front, driver side). I've drilled the bolt out, and during tapping, broke the tap about 80% down. After much trial and error, a HF hammer drill and a 3/16" masonry bit broke up the tap, and it's out. I've re-tapped again to about the same 80% spot, but the threads are not in great shape at all. I'm wondering how much torque the tapped threads will stand up to. The required torque according to the manual is a final torque of 23-25 ft/lb. I screwed a good bolt in place finger tight, marked it and pulled it back out. Looks like about 1/2" of threads will have a fair hold in the hole...about 10 full threads. I'm hoping there is a torque expert with a simple diameter/length/size table for a ballpark idea on the question below.
My question. I can try to screw a 5/16"-18 threaded rod in, with thread locker...position the manifold, and then nut it down hoping it will hold the torque, or luckily, for this one hole, I could through drill oversized,and using the same rod, try to nut the underside, and then the top.
Any votes as to which? I'm hesitant to drill through and destroy the threads intact, but I'm NOT breaking off another tap in this thing.
The bottom of the flange from the head does allow me access to the bottom, but it will not be a flat surface for the underside nut. it's angled at the same angle as the head coming from the block. No welder in this shop, and the truck is in pieces, so no trip to the machine shop.
My question. I can try to screw a 5/16"-18 threaded rod in, with thread locker...position the manifold, and then nut it down hoping it will hold the torque, or luckily, for this one hole, I could through drill oversized,and using the same rod, try to nut the underside, and then the top.
Any votes as to which? I'm hesitant to drill through and destroy the threads intact, but I'm NOT breaking off another tap in this thing.

The bottom of the flange from the head does allow me access to the bottom, but it will not be a flat surface for the underside nut. it's angled at the same angle as the head coming from the block. No welder in this shop, and the truck is in pieces, so no trip to the machine shop.