I was pulling heads on a 98 Outback and stripped one of the heads (10mm) of one of the cam bearing cap bolts. Even though I was using a 6 point socket, it got completely rounded. Vice grip didn't help either....and that was with a new pair of genuine Vice Grips, not Chinese knock-offs.

 

Anyway, I then Dremeled the head off the bolt...I got a little carried away and ground some of the bearing cap off.

 

Should I try and make it flat and reuse the same cap? or get the same position bearing cap from a same year/model engine and use it?

 

Anyone been in this situation before? What did you do? Is your engine still running well? Photos here:

 

Ouch. Seems to me like you should be able to replace it with a new one as long as you get the proper size. You never use caps from another engine. Same reason that you don't mix up bearings.

i dont think subaru sells just the new caps. i have never seen a part number for one. if this the case, just make sure the surface is as level as you can get it and buy or find a nice bolt.

Then the caps must be machined while bolted to the head, and as such can only be sold with the head. Otherwise they won't fit.

 

I suppose you'll have to try and get it as close to flat as you can, and get a new bolt(assuming Subaru will sell the bolts separate). I wonder if a machine shop would be able to cut it down perfectly flat?

Just hand file it flat and replace the bolt. It will be fine. If you notice - the bolt surfaces are not factory machined. They appear to be die-cast. It doesn't have to be that flat but it should be uniform and "by eye" flat. That will suffice.

 

GD

Edited May 29, 201015 yr by GeneralDisorder