Holmanrd

Hello folks, I am trying to find a cleanout tap or thread chaser long enough to clean up the block for my head bolts.

Any body have a line on these that don't cost a bunch?

Have had a couple friends say just use a standard tap but I was under the impression that a standard tap would still remove material.

texasprd

Yes - a standard tap may remove material. I have read where people used bottoming taps for thread cleanup, but they have the same material-removal issue. How deep do you need to go down the holes? Are standard thread-chasers too short? Kastar makes a thread-cleanup kit - I think Sears/Craftsman and others re-label it, but you can probably find it online. One trick listed here is to take a grade-8 or grade 9 bolt (lightly lubricated) and run it in and out several times. You might take a high-grade bolt and cut slots in it lengthwise - that would basically give you an extra-long thead chaser (I would run it through a cleanup die first, though - to clean up the edges of the slots).

Holmanrd

texasprd,
Right about the time of your response my dad gave me one of those "Are you serious" looks. Then he asked if I forgot how to make a clean up tap out of a bolt. Darn Okie has forgotten more tricks than I will ever know.
Since I am replacing the head bolts any way I will use one to make a clean out .
Thank you for your help.

texasprd

You're very welcome. I know the feeling. There are times when I've been trying to do something and my son will call my attention to something I'm totally missing and I just have to shake my head at myself.

texasprd

You've probably taken care of your issue by now, but here's a discussion (post #7) mentioning a nifty way that I had never seen before for cleaning up threads - a . You would of course need one for the correct thread pattern, but you get the idea...

Holmanrd

texasprd, That is cool I have never seen those back-taps before.

I made some clean outs from the old head bolts already but I will save that link. Those suckers may come in handy with all the old junk I mess around with.

Thank you.