Well, being the idiot that I am, I got overly aggressive with one of the float bowl screws on my holley 390 and stripped one of the bolts..... aaarrrggghhh!!!  sure didnt seem to take too much, but....

Wondering if I could helicoil it vs. having to try to find a new main body and rebuild it?  Im assuming that JB weld wouldnt hold up to the gas soaking, etc, and probably wouldnt hold a fine thread like that.....

Any other ideas? 

Ron Grove

Wauconda, IL

This could probably be done depending on the amount of material around the hole.  Before doing this check for the next size thread (consider metric also) and just retap the stripped out hole.   You probably already have it large enough to tap, and may just have to drill the through hole to match the new size.   Shove a rag in the carb to catch the chips, or tape off everything but the area you are working on, and blow it out with compressed air after.   Should work and be gentle upon assembly.   J

I wouldn't shy away from some kind of epoxy product for this problem. I have found those products to be pretty inert to fuel in a couple of applications.  I concur that you do everything the earlier poster suggested with regards to the selection of the the size of the thread but I would apply all those ideas to a steel stud. Then you can put a nut on the outside of the float bowl. That way the thread that is applying the force will be on the outside of the float bowl and run in better material.  Use a piece of all thread or thread both ends of an appropriate sized steel or brass rod.   Even though it is what Holley did, it is kind of poor practice to run fine threads that will be removed and replaced many times into the soft material of the carb body.

BTW this concept is also valuable on the t-stat housing of aluminum intakes.  The threads for these bolts are often stripped out in the used ones you see. Putting studs and nuts in this application will prevent stripping of these threads and you can apply sealant to the threads so they will not leak.

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

They use epoxy to fix a hole in a gas tank so I would assume it could be used for any fuel related problem. I put some in my daughter's cars gas tank and it was still holding when she got rid of it and it was about a 3/4 inch hole.

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

Yes to the Helicoil.  To restore the threads back to the original size, you’ll need the 12-24 Helicoil set.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

The hole is tapped deeper than the original bolt. you can take the bolt to a professional nuts and bolt supply and get a bolt a little longer than the original, it may have a different head such a hex allen etc but it will work. Done it already.

-Gary Burnette-

Thanks (again!) guys!  Ill probably try the helicoil first, mostly because Im trying to keep it looking all the same, since we show the car once in a while (I know its not the right OE carb, but at local shows and buried under the oil-bath air filter, not much shows...).  It was the darndest thing...actually pulled a coil of the original threads right out of the hole, like it was helicoiled in the first place (it wasnt, its just that is how clean the threads pulled out....).

I want to say again a big thank you to everyone who has been patient enough to answer my posts the last few weeks!  You have no idea how helpful you have all been!  THANKS!

Ron Grove

Wauconda, IL

My old Holley 2300, unknown to me, was heli coiled at one of the lower bolts on the float bowl, by a previous owner. Unfortunately, it eventually pulled out. I figured re doing it would probably fail, so in desperation, I put a light amount of petroliam jelly on the threads, then applied J.B. Weld over it, threaded it in & left it overnight. So far it's holding. What will happen if I try to remove it ? That remains to be seen...

Paul

I was just looking through the Holley catalogue I just got and they sell a repair kit to do just that.Hope you got it fixed OK.Regards,Mark

  

Really?  Do you happen to have a part number handy?

Thanks!

Ron Grove

Wauconda, IL