Hi everyone. I'm in the process of installing a new head on my 22re and can't find a tap to clean out the head bolt holes into my block. Its a M12x1.25 tap that's needed. All I can find is 12x1.5 and 12x1.75. At my local parts store they don't even have one in the catalogue. Since I cant find one anywhere my only option seems to be to clean up one of the old bolts and use it to clean the holes out as best I can, which feels like a very mickey mouse way of doing things to me. Anyone have any insight or ideas??

 

The M12x1.25 is a fairly common tap.
Your local parts guys need to dig a little deeper, if one tool company does'nt have the tap, another one will.
You can get one shipped from China for $7.80US on Ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-12mm-1-25-Metric-HSS-Right-Hand-Tap-M12x1-25-Pitch-/170917947756?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27cb80e96c

 

Order online if the local store doesn't carry. I got a whole irwin metric tap set for less than 30 bucks online. Covers 3-12mm with coarse, medium and fine pitches.

 

Got tired of going to store after store looking for specific taps and finding every one but the one needed.
Harbor freight has a large tap set for less than 100 bucks as well.

 

Using a tap when you should be using a thread chaser can loosen bolt holes and skew torqie readings.

I'd by a chaser and do it right. They dont remove material. Taps do.

 

If you ordered a new set of head bolts, use an old one. I had the same problem. My tap set didn't have the right TPI. I purchased new head bolts and took an old one then cut a slot perpendicular to the threads with a cutoff wheel. The reason for the cut is to allow the debris a place to collect. It worked like a charm!!!

You really should get a new set of head bolts.

 

I know you're in Canada, but here in the US, for my specialty metric hardware I go to Ace hardware instead of the usual Home Depot. Ace is a smaller store and has a greater selection of metric stuff.

Also, try http://www.mcmaster.com/#

 

Unless it's a filthy block you got from the junk yard you should be fine if you don't use a chaser on the fresh holes that you just removed the old head bolts out of.

 

My experience was the exact opposite. Both times I've rebuilt a 22RE the holes were pretty gunked up. The first one was never apart since it left the factory and there was a lot in each hole. Some people have even had head bolts break off from being seized in the block. The second time I had a head off a 22RE wasn't as bad. The previous owner rebuilt it about 30,000 miles back and used an off brand head gasket which failed and cracked the head. Anyway, the theads in the block were cleaner but still had a fair amount of gunk.

Chase the threads. I bought my thread chaser set from Sears. It was in the neighborhood of $30 or $40.

 

if you can afford it, use new head bolts, at the very least, inspect each bolt for wear, stretching etc . And use a thread chaser only. You live in Canada, Canadian Tire has them for loan, leave a deposit, use it, bring it back and get deposit back.

 

I bought new head bolts and cut the end off one of my old bolts to clean it up. I didnt have the time to wait for a chaser because of the gong show that is the week before christmas and needing my truck put back together quick. Thanks for the tips.

 

I just re-torqued my head bolts after a few hundred kms and they were surprisingly loose. My haynes manual and the manufacturers recommended specs are both 58ft-lbs which seems pretty low. Anybody go above that?

 

just did mine, initially torqued at 58 ft/lbs, retorqued to 65 lb/lbs. Only 2-3 were just a little out of spec, but not to bad.