I need help!

I bought a 91 v6 pickup from a friend that had blown head gaskets thinking it would be an easy fix. In doing research I came across the d.o.a studs thinking that they would solve any future problems but all I have had is problems.

When I was putting the engine back together I bottomed each of the holes out with an old bolt a few times, threaded the stud in by hand, double nutted them and cranked them in the rest of the way. Then the gasket went on followed by the heads.

The passenger side went great but the driver side was a different story. I was on the final torque sequence and the number 5 stud snapped at 55lbs. I called Tim at d.o.a. and he sent me two new ones in case I had any more problems. He said that he had never heard of one breaking so I sent him mine to do tests on. Later I read about the Firefighter's experience with d.o.a.. Tim said I oiled the threads in the block and that kept the stud from seating properly and caused hydraulic locking or something like that.

I tried to use an e-z out on the broken stud. That didn't work so I had a buddy who is experienced with helicoils put one in for me. When putting it back together again I had problems again. The stud didn't snap but when tightening it dropped from 45lbs to 15lbs and then just went up and down between 5 and 15 lbs as I turned it. Obviously the helicoil didn't work.

I don't know what to do now. Do I need a new block and if so where do i get one? All the junk yards around me don't even have 4 or 6 cylinder engines. I don't have the money to put a new engine in it right now.

I would be mad with d.o.a. but Tim has been helpful, although he hasn't offered any reimbursment yet.

Thanks for your help in advance, Tim. (my name is also tim.)

 

might try taking it to a machine shop, they usually can solve problems like that.

i don't know if DOA studs are any different, but you don't want to crank them down! just put them in finger tight, they will get pulled tight against the threads when you torque the nuts on. personally i'd get some ARP studs, i've heard some bad things about DOA head studs

 

machine shop will do the trick for cheap.

Just have them put the head on at the same time to avoid trouble.

Shouldn't cost more than 100 and maybee some change.

 

3rd vote for an automotive machine shop, they can repair the threads as good as new, but you will have to pull the engine.