So when we were putting everything in the engine back together and getting all the nets torqued to sped we found a few of the stud holes on the exhaust manifold (and elsewhere) on the engine were stripped. We could not totally tighten a nut or two. We tried helicoiling the holes, but that still didn't work. We also tried heli coil and locktight. Still not luck.

If I take it to a shop, what can they do for it? Will they just drill a bigger hole and re-thread it? Or will they try and helicoil it too and charge me a buttload for it?

 

They may put thread inserts in it. I can't remember the correct name for them, but they are kind of like a helicoil, but they are a steel insert that is much stronger. Instead of being a coil like a HC, they are solid.

 

I had a few do that on mine and I drilled and retapped the holes to a larger size. On one hole I had to use a longer bolt couple with some washers to get it to bite. A little ghetto maybe but it worked and no exhaust leak.

 

Isn't that something I can do myself? How much would a shop charge for that service?

Finidng the heli-coils for that bolt size was a bitch. We went to 5 different auto parts stores and hardware stores before landing at NAPA and found the size there. Price was $20!!! And they didn't even work.