I purchased a B20B block with the intent to ship it off to Golden Eagle to get sleeved (it's already been decked) however I didn't notice until later that the threads in which the head studs go in have been helicoiled.

Here's a picture if you can see the threads. I'm sorry the picture isn't very close, I could take another if need be: http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/8162/24057280.jpg

I have two questions:

1. As is, could these helicoils handle the torque necessary to bolt a head onto the block?

2. If not, could I perhaps stack another helicoil thread on top of the other (deepening the threads) to help?

Any insight is appreciated. I've heard of people doing things like this on BMW engines, but not so much on Honda's.

 

time serts are the only way to fix those holes... google is your friend.

 

OK, thank you. I've heard of these before too but wasn't familiar at all with them. Ill do more research on my own.

Thank you.

 

you could use it. it has worked before

 

Not trying to be a dick but don't give bad advise especially without proper credentials, you joined last year and go 12s... How much power has your helicoil supported? Because we have done time serts that are stronger than factory holes and held 40+ lbs of boost. Just an fyi you won't get a helicoil to hold the torque the head will need and if you have never tried to helicoil a hole that deep try it and you'll know what I'm talking about. Sorry for the rant noobs get me fired up around lunch time lol.

 

Time-serts are the Honda approved repair method. I don't trust helicoils at all. They can break and back out.

 

helicoils are fine when repairing low torque area's in things like aluminum cylinder heads, but not something that requires the torqueing force that a headbolt hole in a block does. time serts are by far the way to go

 

Helicoils are **** period, time serts or dont bother

 

Helicoils are fine for headstuds. Timecerts are better but helicoils are fine. I've been doing this for years with great results. Be sure to tap it enough to use two helicoils for a better bite.

 

helicoils may work for a little bit but they WILL fail and can only be used once. Then even the timesert might fail you because the helicoil assholed out the hole.

 

Helicoils will be fine. We use them on high pressure turbine casings and valves in power plants. These are 4-5" bolts seeing tens of thousands of lbs of torque.

 

^that is not a honda block lol Apple's and oranges. Anyone that thinks a helicoil is a proper fix for this hasn't made any serious power I don't care how many you stick in the hole it's still some backyard bullshit.

 

I didn't even notice you said b20 if this is the case just forget the holes because those blocks are inferior in design and not a good idea for a sleeve job. I'm not gonna get into it but it's a fact that they are junk do a little research and you will agree.

 

heli coil worked for me changed head gasket torqued to 85lbs no problems been 2 years pushing 20lbs of boost

 

a hole is a hole. As long as you don't push the material thickness to bare minimums, the helicoil threads will be stronger than the originals.

 

This is correct. I don't push nearly as much boost. I made 430whp on 14 psi. I used timeserts for that block. OP, use timeserts. Find a shop with the tool and get it done. You will not regret it.

 

Im ready to get hated on, but i cant resist chiming in. I have helicoiled three b20 blocks. Two of them were all motor 12+:1 cr and they handled just fine and still do because my buddies drive them daily. One was a boosted b20v and as i know is still running strong. These were all YEARS ago. If its done properly the helicoil will hold. Yes time serts are recommended by Honda but your block is already helicoiled OP.

PFI_NAYR_ONE: have you personally seen a helicoil fail? Was it really the insert or failure to properly install the insert?

 

Though the OP said the block is Helicoiled, it could very well be Timeserts.

 

I have seen a lot of them fail its not a proper fix. no amount of motors you hack together in your back yard is going to convince me either... Take one of those engines to 700+hp and see how they work.

 

I have seen blocks rip themselves in half when they are full of time serts... They are stronger than the factory holes.

 

I don't think any of you guys know how to properly size a helicoil. No I am not talking about diameter. Helicoils come in varying length which is specified in terms of diameter. So helicoils come in lengths of 1D, 1 1/2D, 2D ....etc. To properly size a helicoil you need to know the shear strength of the parent material (Engine block) and the tensile strength of the fastener (Head bolts/studs) being used. You then can refer to the helicoil manufacture spec's to get the correct length helicoil to obtain maximum strength. I think part of the problem with helicoils is people not sizing them correctly and using knock off Chinese mystery material helicoils. I recommend you guys download Emharts helicoil catalog. It will give you a world of information on helicoils and how to properly size and install them. I cannot comment on time serts as I have never used them, but I didn't see any kind of data listed on there website.

Link to Emharts catalog:
http://www.emhartamericas.com/sites/...-catalogue.pdf

 

WTF does this have to do with that i run 12s? i'm still on a stock motor and i didn't do this to my engine but a guy locally did that to an 4g63 that is close to 40lbs and it's holding well.

 

Helicoil is a perfectly acceptable repair, I agree with race egr completely.

 

This x 400000000

 

I have Heli-coiled a 100% stock GSR block before. It has held up so far but I wouldn't trust a Heli-coil anywhere near as much as a Time-Sert.
FYI if anyone has ever f**ked up a Heli-coiled hole or pulled out a Time-Sert insert you can get a Big-Sert kit.