Opinion - Red threadlocker

[Aerovette]

I have the head off of the Rodeo and I'm in the process of eating away the broken tap with acid. MUCH slower than the internet would have you believe.

Anyway, a hack mechanic put in three helicoils. One is a mess but it functions. The exhaust manifold is a mix of studs and bolts. Because I dont want to torque hard against the helicoils, I have decided to put studs in every location and clamp the manifold with nuts.

Would you use red threadlocker? Ideally these will never be removed...but never say never. It's a aluminum head. I think if I use red, I can get the studs fairly tight without a ton of torque and the red threadlocker will keep them in place. Then I "should" be able to really tighten the nuts and be golden.

Right? Wrong? Use blue? Also Permatex makes orange that is advertised to be 3x blue, but not quite red.

[Grey Ghost]

Different part numbers depending on the size of the fastener and heat resistance. Should be on the back of every pkg.

[ZipZap]

Red is fine. Sounds like you're putting a bunch of effort in on this fix. Removal, if ever needed, just requires some serious heat. Probably an engine pull, but doable. Either way it sounds as though you're saving an already dead motor, so why not?

[Frankie the Fink]

Red is fine. Sounds like you're putting a bunch of effort in on this fix. Removal, if ever needed, just requires some serious heat. Probably an engine pull, but doable. Either way it sounds as though you're saving an already dead motor, so why not?
I used red thread locker on the bolts on the outboard flange on my 63 Corvette half-shafts at the rear; the cheesy reproduction French locks they make to replace the originals distorted and twisted when I tried to torque the bolts to spec....no matter what I did...

What you are really asking is if the use of red thread locker will allow you to use less than spec torque on certain bolts; safe to say - I don't really know.

[DJ_Critterus]

Why not take the head to a machine shop and have it fixed properly?

[TheHammer]

you do know how to remove bolts with red threadlocker correct? heat!

[Aerovette]

Why not take the head to a machine shop and have it fixed properly?
In short, not worth it. I'm looking for a bubblegum fix, I just want the bubblegum to last longer.

[Aerovette]

you do know how to remove bolts with red threadlocker correct? heat!

At least 500 degrees. That's probably not far from what the operating temp of the manifold is.

[Yadkin]

Why not take the head to a machine shop and have it fixed properly?

Drill them all out to the next largest size. Might be metric. :yesnod:

[MadInNc]

Drill them all out to the next largest size. Might be metric. :yesnod:

Yep, agree.

OP wanted a simple fix - but why not extend the project longer than the vehicle life is :yesnod:

Might get car on the road ~ Labor Day with the Yaddy plan

[DJ_Critterus]

In short, not worth it. I'm looking for a bubblegum fix, I just want the bubblegum to last longer.

Looks like this thread will come up again after it dies off.....

[Aerovette]

Looks like this thread will come up again after it dies off.....

I have all the parts to get it back together except one. I need to run to Wally World and get the FOR SALE sign, or take it to Carmax.

Too bad BFM is out of business. :Jeff '79:

[Aerovette]

Looks like this thread will come up again after it dies off.....

Not if I use threadlocker. :D

[TheHammer]

Not if I use threadlocker. :D

temp fix to unload? JB Weld! :D

[DJ_Critterus]

I have all the parts to get it back together except one. I need to run to Wally World and get the FOR SALE sign, or take it to Carmax.

Too bad BFM is out of business. :Jeff '79:

Better get your water ski ready :yesnod:

[TheHammer]

you should fly out Doug's Master Mechanic