So I've got a 94 hatch that I recently acquired from a friend that has an LS swap. It stopped running and I concluded that it had a blown head gasket. I went through the process of replacing the head gasket and got to the point of torquing the head bolts to spec. I went through the sequence of just tight enough to touch the head then torqued to 22 ft lbs then started torquing to 61 ft lbs when the first bolt in the sequence came loose. At this point I remembered about that bolt being loose when I was taking it apart thus realizing what happened and why the engine blew the head gasket to begin with. So the bolt hole in the block is stripped.

So long story short, what are my options? Is there any way to fix it cheaply (I am planning on either doing a LS/VTEC or GSR in a year or so, so I don't need it to last forever) or do I have to get a new block and switch over all my internals?

Thanks for the help.

 

The best and cheapest way is to use heli coils, I have done this and had no more problems. In fact it is just alil stronger that the stock set up. U can do this urself, it really isn't hard.

 

a machine shop can re thread the bolt hole.. if not pick up a bare LS block... u can get em for $100 now a days

 

I never heard of these before but sounds really good to me. I think I'll try this since it seems to be the quickest and easiest method for me.

Do you know what kit I'll need to get?

 

If i remember correctly it's an 11mm x 1.5 but I will check and if what I posted it wrong I'll repost the correct info. All u have to do really is take a head bolt with u and say u need a heil coil to fit it and the best place I found is NAPA.

 

Alright, Thanks a lot. You just saved me lots of headache

 

Ok, So I ended up getting the TimeSert Kit to do this. (Got a good price) Well, my now for my question. The inserts the kit came with are 16mm long. The threads on the headbolts are 40mm. Is that going to pose much or any problem for strength when I torque them?

 

Shouldn't have any problem at all, just make sure u cleaned all the debris and fluid out of the holes. Also u may want to put the inserts at the middle part of the threads.

 

Cool. Thanks. I'm going to be giving this a try this weekend. Hopefully I can get this thing running.

 

Good luck man

 

You can put more than one heli coil insert into the hole to get your 40mm of threads. AFter you drill and tap the damaged hole, measure how much thread you have in the head. Divide by 16mm/coil and figure out how many coils you need. Put the first coil in to the bottom. Then break off the tang as per the instruction. Put the next coil in - break the tang. Continue until you have a heli coil sticking out. Take a wire cutter and cut the coil that stick up past the top of the block.
Head bolts in general (don't know this for honda though) don't bottom out in the tapped hole so you can figure out just how long the threaded part of the hole you need.
Let us know how it goes.