Basically I screwed up. But I'll spare you my anger and get down to the details.

I am rebuiling the top end of my SBC (new heads and intake manifold). I overtightened a header bolt on an aluminum head and took the threads right out of it (the head doesn't have steel thread inserts. I am going to have it helicoiled. Right now the heads are fully torqued down with SCE full copper gaskets, and the heads and the gaskets have never seen ignition.

Would it be too much to ask if I were able to take the head off for the helicoil and then reassemble with the existing head gasket and expect it to seal? What should I look for in the gasket to make it ineligible to use?

Im a retard... graemlins/sad.gif graemlins/sad.gif graemlins/sad.gif graemlins/sad.gif graemlins/sad.gif graemlins/sad.gif

Copper head gaskets are supposed to be reusable...however I would rather spend 80 bucks on a new set of head gaskets than to find out they werent right and tear evrything back down again. You decide...

If you can get to the hole with a drill, I wouldn`t pull the head. Just buy a helicoil kit at your parts store for 3/8 - 16 and do it yourself. I rented a 1/2" angle drill once to helicoil a crankshaft balancer bolt hole in the car once. Nothing to it. If you have to pull the head, the copper gaskets are supposed to be reusable. Brent

copper head gaskets are reusable. we have reused the ones on my buddy's 632, and the ones we replaced appeared to have been reused many times. though still sealing we did replace them. i would be especially not concerned since they have never even been heat cycled. just make sure they are on the same sides they came off of. i say no worries, and usually i am extremely overkill on this type of thing. but with that said, if you can get to it with a drill, i wouldn't even take the head off. just helicoil it in place. my .02 graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Spray the suckers down good with spray-can Copper-Cote and reuse them!!! pdq67

I agree w/ Pro-Street, why pull the head? IF you can get to the hole with a drill, nice and square to the threads go for it. There's really no mystery to installing threaded inserts. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I just bought these heads and I don't want to attempt something I have never tried on my 1000 dollar babies.

The head is at the machine shop now. The gasket kinda got bent during the removal, but I don't think there's a problem to get it back flat. I was almost tempted to tell the machinist to heicoil all of the header threads with the steel helicoils, so I can torque them down more confidently.

The head goes back on tonight! graemlins/thumbsup.gif

GET A NEW GASKET !!!!!! PLEASE !!!! They are cheap and will save you a lot of labor if they won't seal where the "bend is".

You CAN buy just one.

without seeing the "bent" part, that does sound a little scary. but, as i stated before, there is no reason you can't reuse them. esp. since they have never even been heat cycled. but that bent thing does concern me a bit, all i can say is if in doubt, just buy another. good luck with it graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I have found that Helicoils hold the bolt tight better than plain aluminum threads.
The soft aluminum will allow the header bolts to come loose easier. Make sure your header bolts are long enough to get a good grab on the head.
David

Don't use Helicoil!! They are designed for thread repair and the insertion of a bolt ONE TIME! Yes I know that a lot of guys remove and reinstall the bolt with a Helicoil, but each time after the first is just a blessing. Use a Time Sert. These are usually installed in aluminum components from the manufacturers and they have a kit like Helicoil to install them in any application. I've used them in aluminum engine blocks and I can say with confidense that they hold and are re useable (bolts in and out several times) You should be able to find these at any automotive machine shop supply.
Jim

Forgot about the header gaskets.
Try Earls Pressure masters Header gaskets. They have a replaceable insert (instead of replacing gaskets all the time) The material they use for the insert doesn't require that you crank the bolts tight to seal them. I've used them and have taken the headers off three or four times and haven't had to replace the inserts. They are a little more expensive, but in the long run are cheaper to use.
Jim

Sorry sik68
Looks like I didn't read the post properly and focused on header gaskets not Head gaskets. If this is a street driver and weekend worrier, I would install new gaskets. I wouldn't use copper. They will corrode with the use of some antifreeze after a while. Copper are reuseable and are for racing and to be used on an engine that will be torn down often IMO. Get your self some good Felpros and have no worries about leaks. Some of the engines I have seen at my local engine builders shop that use copper gaskets long term come out looking very green and chalky and this will cause the aluminum to pit.
Jim