FARKIN AFR HEADS!!!

[Blowpastyou]

I was putting my intake manifold on tonight and the unthinkable happened. I was tightening the manifold bolts and i had them all at 15ft/lb, one of the bolts just didnt feel right. So I went on and went to 23 ft/lb and the one that didnt feel right just didnt tighten up and then the threads just came out with it. it wasnt even past 16 or 17 ft/lb, I had just started pulling on it. Does this happen very often? Im calling Keith Craft racing in the morning to see what they intend on doing about it. I have a feeling their going to say F off and get it fixed. This is the only thing that made me nervous about aluminum heads.

[stroked4eyes]

Does this happen very often?

No...maybe your torque wrench is off.


Im calling Keith Craft racing in the morning to see what they intend on doing about it. I have a feeling their going to say F off and get it fixed.


I have a feeling you are right but they won't say it quite like that.

[JonS]

That sucks, a helicoil or some kind of insert is about your only choice. You could JB weld it:D, but that wouldn't be my first choice. I have stopped torqueing my intakes altogether, I just snug it up til it feels about right. Were the heads new?

[Blowpastyou]

it looks like a heliecoil already. my dads torque was just calibrated on the base by his buddy. It wasnt even close to tight yet.

[stroked4eyes]

it looks like a heliecoil already.

So they were used? :eek:

[Blowpastyou]

No their brand new, I just took them both out of the box the other day. It came out of the head and looked like a helicoil. I dont know, I may take a picture of it tomorrow and post it up.

[stroked4eyes]

Oh...ok the threads came completely out...yeah they will look like a helicoil if you get them all out. about the only thing you can do is tap and actually helicoil it.

[Blowpastyou]

im going to see Keith Craft does about it first. Or im going to call AFR too see what if anything they'll do.

[JonS]

I'm sure they are gonna put the blame on you, even if it wasn't your fault. It would probably be easiest to just take it to a machine shop if you don't feel comfortable fixing it yourself, but hey maybe KC or AFR may pick up the bill. Good Luck

[Jeff88coupe]

Sucks that the threads stripped out. AFR's do not come with helicoils. BES told me to not torque my intake any higher than like 12-14 ft/lb's....that is all that was needed. I also try to remember to use antiseize on any bolt I fasten to my heads (afr 185's).

[Blowpastyou]

I also use anti seize on all the bolts. oh well calling them now.

[RIXXX93GT]

I never had an issue, I do not use a torque wrench on anything under 30 pounds because they tend to not be that accurate having such a long handle at those small amounts. You can blow right past 15 pounds with a long handled torque wrench before you know what happened. A heli-coil will fix you up and be just fine for your intake.

[facemelter71]

I have a really nice $400 snap on digital torque wrench in 3/8 that's pretty nice to have.It's range is from 5-100 Foot pounds,and it also has inch pounds and newton meters.If any one needs something like a nice intake torqued onto even nicer heads,let me know ill swing out as long as your close.

[oversquare]

It would be really cool if you had a pic. Most aftermarket head companies Helicoil the bosses for intake manifolds, but it's AFR's problem that they didn't helicoil them correctly, not really Keith Craft's. I'm sure you can find an oversized OD Helicoil and redo it. A lot cheaper and takes less time than dealing with people and racking up long distance charges. :)

[chad393na]

Afr recommends tightening the bolts snug with a wrench instead of torqueing them. It's in the instructions.

[Blowpastyou]

I wish I would have gotten them instructions