Take a look at this. There are four other bolts holding on the plate in the back. It looks like a coolant passage cover. It is the lower bolt hole you see. It threads in the aluminum and inserts from the other side.



I'm not sure what to do about this or if this is something that needs to be addressed right now or if it will be fine if I leave it.

 

It will eventually have to be repaired. When you say you broke a bolt, did you strip out the threads in the head or snap off the 12MM bolt in the head?

 

from the picture the head looks kind of clean. did you just work on it or just cleaned it. if the mileage is high would be safer to just remove the head and do either timing chain and may be a valve job at the same time. there is not so much room back there.

 

I was putting it back together after replacing the head gasket and replacing the timing chain. That is a new head because the one that came off was cracked due to the previous owner.

quick question for someone:

when putting the valve cover back on w/the new gasket, do i use permatex on either mating surface of just put the gasket on between the valve cover and head then call screw it on?

 

Just drill out the old bolt, and run a tap through it.

 

Use an Easy Out. If you broke the head off the bolt, use a preferably, left handed drill about 1/2 the size of your bolt, drill into it, place the correct size ez out in the hole, pound lightly with hammer, and twist out. Looks like a pretty clean break....spray some penetrating lube on their before you start...and maybe heat it up a bit with a propane torch to help it quickly soak in the penatrent.

 

how in the world would you get a drill in there without taking the head off. I just put a new HG on and I do not have the time to take this thing off. It is my dd and i has to be running by the end of today.

 

looks like the only way is to pull the head again. shouldn't need any sealer on the head to valve cover would use silicone under the half moon end seals on the head.