i have a stripped exhaust bolt. i just used a concrete lag bolt lol..

What ever works for you. Me personally, am a bit of a perfectionist and that would bother me.

it does work. maybe ill get around to doing it the right way come summer. I was holding off until i slapped on another exhaust header. but the exhaust leak was driving me crazy

What the f#$% are you people talking about?!? I think we've got a couple conversations going on here or something.

FIRST, if the HG is blown there's no point in replacing the bolts one at a time... even if it weren't a HORRIBLE idea.... you still have to replace the damned HG and check for warpage.

SECOND, I wouldn't run a helicoil in 90% of the blocks on the market, not for the head bolt part of the equation.... there's just not enough meat in the surrounding material for me to consider it reliable after I drill the hole 3 to 4mm wider for the insert.

THIRD, Green, from what you're saying I assume you're actually talking about the manifold fastener holes (particularly the exhaust side). Two passes here is fine, on the head bolts or studs I recommend 3 or more passes at small increments but not so small that striction hits.

FOURTH, 72ft lbs for head bolts and 95 for studs... IIRC. :p

3 passes you say? ill write that down if i have to take my head off again.

yea i was talking about the exhaust manifold