So I started test fitting the parts to see if everything would fit together alright. I'll grant that I'm not that mechanically inclined but but from my experience (as limited as it may be) if I'm gentle and don't use tools I should be ok. So the kit comes with a cast iron manifold and after screwing in some of the bolts the threads all flaked out. I have 1 stripped for the wastegate and 1, maybe 2, stripped for the turbo mount. So I have two questions.

1. How can I fix this?
2. What did I do wrong so I don't do it again?

Also I was just assembling the mainfold, turbo, wastegate, and downpipe on a bench. Not in the car.

 

Next time hand tighten the all the nuts and bolts then torch them to spec. You can take the whole assemble to shop and they will help you out.

 

WTF??? arent the treadstone manifolds cast iron??? seems to me like the threads on the bolts would strip before the bolt holes. unless treadstone qc didnt catch something and the manifold came that way.

 

Like I said, I didn't use tools. So everything was hand tightened. I was trying to make sure no major problems would crop up before I got to the shop. Too late.

 

It is cast iron but I'm trying to find out the properties of the metal. I'm not a metallurgist so I don't know, but maybe iron is just a brittle metal.

 

theres no way that you striped anything with your hands. most times when hand tightening those bolts they will reach a point where the feel like there sized. thats when you have to use a wrench the rest of the way. if you dont know what you are doing, then you might want to find someone who does. turbo kits arent cheap.

 

The threads flaked out and are on my bench now. I can't even re-tap it. It's just a cylindrical hole now.

Btw, thanks for pointing out the obvious. lol

 

Are the threads on the bolts stripped or the actual manifold?

Iron is pretty hard to strip with your bare hands..

Did the bolts come from Treadstone? I've heard they use Chinese C grade hardware sometimes..

 

Threads on the manifold. Bolt threads are fine. I wish it was the bolts, it would be easier to fix. Now I have to talk to Treadstone about exchanging my manifold. Which will be like trying to pull teeth from 80 year old.

 

pics?

 

When I get home I'll see if I can get some good ones.

 

Treadstone has a habit of sending out bolts with the wrong pitch, they also don't thread the manifold down far enough and ussually leave gaps...I'll have more info for you later tonight bolts and their pitch and whatnot

Btw, they did this to me on three seperate occasions with three different applications

 

Thanks. I measured the threads on the bolts but I didn't measure the ones in the manifold.

 

That sucks GL getting things taken care of. This is why you dont hear about treadstone anymore.

 

I've heard really the issue with Treadstone is their customer service.

Sometimes you need to replace parts for a customer - and I think they would be better if they did that without complaints.

 

seriously, who remembers the long battle i had with them for the stupid downpipe? im the reason they offer it on their website now hahaha

 

Oh Jeez that was a mess aen. glad that thing is over for you and the rest us us. I know we suffered with ya on that one.

 

worst case scenario you could re-drill the holes 1 step bigger and re-tap them for a bigger bolt... is the tapped hole a blind hole (can't see through it) or is it all the way through?

if you decide to go that route it's important to get the right type of tap (bottoming tap if it's a blind hole), and take your time so you dont break the tap off in there.

oh also for the piece that mounts to the now-stripped holes, just use the same size bit to open up the hole a bit.

*make sure to look up a tap drill bit chart so you know exactly what size bit to get