Looks like a trip to the machine shop

finally got set to check my valves, and discovered that a couple of the cam bearing bolts were slightly backed out. Try to torque down and they spin. discover failed heli-coils. :sick:
Will there be sufficient metal left in the head to tap for larger bolts? Can I attempt this, or is it best left to a pro? I plan to at least lap the valves and clean everything up- examine the cylinder walls, etc. while I'm in there, but hoping to not ship it off to a specialist. Can any decent machine shop help me, or am I boxing it up and sending it to Larry?

You mean the coils stripped out? There isn't much meat to deal with. You might have to have the holes welded up and re drilled and tapped. The cam tower cap can be used as a guide but unless you can tackle it yourself, best left to the pros.
Steve

I assume you are still using the factory 6mm bolts? Its not common for inserts to fail if installed and torqued correctly.

I would consider moving from 6mm to 1/4 inch SAE inserts and bolts.

I like these over HEILCOIL. www.timesert.com/

4TheKZ1000 wrote: I assume you are still using the factory 6mm bolts? Its not common for inserts to fail if installed and torqued correctly.

I would consider moving from 6mm to 1/4 inch SAE inserts and bolts.

I like these over HEILCOIL. www.timesert.com/

+1...I have replaced failed helicoils with timeserts...in the comfort of my own garage with no specialized tools...

I like. In the 80's there were inserts with locking pins you had to hammer in. They were too big for the 6 mm head. Not enough meat there to do it.

Quick update. After too much thinking, took it to a recommended local machinist who installed the timeserts you guys suggested for $40.00. I'm stoked. Gonna lap the valves, clean everything up, new valve springs and then I'm gonna do what swest would do and ride the piss out of it. :silly:

Buy some cam new cam cap bolts about 5mm longer and install them in the head in place of all the stockers.