I finally got to assemble my 5.0, everything was going smoothly, cam went in, timing in great, cleaned up gasket surfaces, put the heads on, everything was grand and dandy untill i got to the last headbolt. It just spun in the block.

Im not a big fan of Heli-Coils, and i dont know if they would work for a cylinder head bolt. I have mine torqued to 90ft/lbs (i hang out with turbo guys...). This bolt is in the bottom front corner. As long as it lasts for a few months, to where i can junkyard hunt for an explorer engine.

 

Helicoils if done properly can be quite strong. 90ft/lbs is alot of pressure but it's worth a try, I mean what else is left ? your car is down until you find another engine it's worth a shot either way.

 

Tipical SBF problem, a heli-coil though, is not that strong....you might not be able to use it anyway, because the problem is a loss of metal area at that bolt hole (working on a similar repair, this one is the bolt in the back, exhaust manifold side, LH)....the other option would be to use a TIME-SERT repair kit.. Hope this helps.

 

This isnt my driver, and this is an engine on a stand, so i dont really care what happens or the time, id just like to get a 5.0 running

I did make the decision to find an explorer engine. Generally would have less miles, fresher, GT40P heads, the HO pistons (im working with a standard output with an HO top end), so with the mods and stuff ive already purchased, and a cam, it should be a leap ahead of a stock HO with the mods i had lined up.

as long as i can junkyard up an explorer 5.0, ill be in buisness.

 

a heli-coil will last well, I have one in my heads, and about a dozen in my 428