One of the screw holes on my Alfa 164's front intake manifold is stripped, so the intake runner won't tighten down all the way. The manifolds, like most of the engine, are aluminum. I've been looking into steel inserts to fix the problem and found two options: Helicoils and time-serts. Any opinions on which is better or easier to use? Are there any other alternatives I should consider? The runner screw holes in the intake manifolds are open at the bottom.
Helicoils are faster/easier and Timeserts are much stronger. If you're looking for a long-term solution, go with the Timeserts.
I've used time-serts pretty successfully to repair the threads in an aluminum head.
You could always tap it for the next size of fastener.
theenico wrote: If you're looking for a long-term solution, go with the Timeserts.
Properly done, a helicoil will last forever.
If it has coolant behind it than a helicoil may never seal up well, otherwise either is probably fine.
I helicoiled one of the exhaust studs on my volvo... worked well and with a harbor freight 90* drill didn't have to pull the head out even... has held for the last 2 years or so without issue but never messed with your other option
Helicoil first, timecert if the helicoil fails.
Helicoil is FAA approved, so its plenty good. If you have enough meat around the hole, a solid insert is a little better.
I've Helicoiled many, many holes over decades, some with pretty significant loads. As long as you have enough engagement, helicoil will be much, much stronger than the original parent metal threads.
I've used hundreds of both due to other so called pro's messing up jobs. Most of the time it comes down to wall thickness you have available and how critical the center of the hole is. If you mess up a timesert your done they will not come out. if you blow the center on a helicoil you can redrill and use a timesert if you can move the center to where it needs to be normal requires a milling machine.
I've never used a timecert, but I've done dozens and dozens of helicoils, many on structural or otherwise mission critical places successfully. Including one that by rights shouldn't have worked, but did; a terribly blown out spark plug hole in a Mazda industrial engine. There was barely anything left the tap to cut, and it went in crooked, but the helicoil still went in and held just fine.
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