[DCAUTO]

Hi all,

My name is Tony, I work for a shop in Hood River, Oregon.

I have a customer with a '69 Firebird that made a bit of a mistake when trying to drill out a broken bolt. It's the bolt at the front of the driver side head that holds the PS pump and alternator. He got off center, and also unfortunately drilled right through into the inside of the top of the head under the valve cover.

I talked to a welder, he said "maybe" and the head has to come off. I'm concerned that with the stress of the bracket torqued on there and heat cycles, it's going to crack after a while.

The owner is an older fella, not rich. I'm trying to track down a good used 94 head or a pair. Or a set of reman heads, if anyone has a good source.

Just trying to help my customer recover from his mistake without breaking the bank.

Thanks
T

[steve25]

In terms of the hole he drilled too deep and off set, why don’t you see what the next size up pipe plug would be and drill and tap that to seal off the under the valve cover area.

Use a Allen head type pipe plug in there.


Next then drill and tap that for a heil coil to get back to the original PS bolt hole size, or if need be step up to the next size above 3/8” which was stock, and of course drill out the PS bracket for the bigger bolt.

[Mr Twister]

From memory a 94 is a 71 350 head. Shouldn't be rare or expensive.

[steve25]

True, it’s not rare , but if it needs a rebuild which includes new valves then you have 400 bucks right there and then if his unhurt head is still original then it’s time to rebuild that one also.

In thinking about this guy’s/ owners problem I can’t see how it happened when your drilling out a bolt.
Steel shards from the bolt look way different then cast iron chips when you start going too deep.

[DCAUTO]

Originally Posted by steve25

True, it’s not rare , but if it needs a rebuild which includes new valves then you have 400 bucks right there and then if his unhurt head is still original then it’s time to rebuild that one also.

In thinking about this guy’s/ owners problem I can’t see how it happened when your drilling out a bolt.
Steel shards from the bolt look way different then cast iron chips when you start going too deep.

I'd agree, I've drilled out dozens, perhaps 100's of bolts in my life. This guy was off half the width of the bolt shaft when he started, and just kept going, at an angle as well. I'm not saying beer was involved, but beer may have been involved.

I appreciate the ideas on fixing the head, but if I attempt a "patch" and it breaks again, now it's my problem. Could I tell him I won't warrantee it? Sure. Can he post on Google and say I don't back my work? Yup.

I posted here in hopes that someone might have a good part, or know of a good part. I could ebay, but that's a roll of the dice. I figure a member of a forum is a much better gamble.

Thx
T

[Shiny]

Originally Posted by DCAUTO

I'd agree, I've drilled out dozens, perhaps 100's of bolts in my life. This guy was off half the width of the bolt shaft when he started, and just kept going, at an angle as well. I'm not saying beer was involved, but beer may have been involved.

I appreciate the ideas on fixing the head, but if I attempt a "patch" and it breaks again, now it's my problem. Could I tell him I won't warrantee it? Sure. Can he post on Google and say I don't back my work? Yup.

I posted here in hopes that someone might have a good part, or know of a good part. I could ebay, but that's a roll of the dice. I figure a member of a forum is a much better gamble.

Thx
T

Sorry I can't help with a replacement head but you are an exceptionally nice person to try and help him like this.

I'd say if your customer did anything to retaliate for trying to save him money by fixing his head, he is beyond sad.

I do like the Full Sail Amber we discovered in Hood River... so maybe I understand the underlying cause of his errant drill.

[PAUL K]

Maybe tap and plug the hole then switch the heads around.

[694.1]

Wow. Paul is an Effin' genius!
Kinda like a tire rotation...

[steve25]

Agreed with the above comment!

And hopefully the exh manifolds will not be a pain in the ass to swap.

[242177P]

Originally Posted by DCAUTO

I'm trying to track down a good used 94 head or a pair. Or a set of reman heads, if anyone has a good source.

Surprised people haven't steered you towards the
correct #47 heads. Compression climbs to around
9:1, it'd breathe some life into that low compression
(7.6:1) smog motor

Selection becomes even greater when it's opened
up to other 350 heads like the 17s and 11s, there are
also some odd small valve 400 heads that'd work. If
anyone wants to unload a doorstop, now's the time?

(If the owner used the late model accessories, that
might become a consideration)

[Mister Pontiac]

To the OP...

I have a set of #47's if you're interested. They were free to me as part of a parts stash years ago. I have no use for them, so I'm happy to let you have them for the same price if you pay to ship.

I can't guarantee them, but they look rebuildable to me.

[DCAUTO]

Originally Posted by PAUL K

Maybe tap and plug the hole then switch the heads around.

Sublime. This is why I like more eyes/brains on a problem. It's painfully obvious, but I'm always doing 11 things at once and rarely get to complete a thought.

Thank you!

[PAUL K]

Originally Posted by DCAUTO

Sublime. This is why I like more eyes/brains on a problem. It's painfully obvious, but I'm always doing 11 things at once and rarely get to complete a thought.

Thank you!

You're welcome. My Dad always said two heads are better than one even if the second one is a dummy. I hope the repair goes well for you. I'm sure it's in good hands.