I agree...
should be a solid repair.

I just looked at a van carefully.
looks like there are 3 layers of folded frame steel, before  the threaded
area.
the threaded area is about 1/4 inch thick, maybe 5/16ths.

the hole before the threaded area is larger diameter than 8mm.
for an overbuilt bomber repair it would be tempting to see if a 10mm insert
would fill up the threaded layer , and the 3 folded layers of frame material
, for a total thread depth of closer to a half inch.
That would give at least 7/16ths of an inch of thread length ....super
strong.

but try you 8 mm thing that you have coming.
that should work just fine.
scott
turbovans
----- Original Message -----
From: "pickle vanagon" <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, June 14, 2010 6:55 PM
Subject: Re: noise SOLVED. Now need to Heli-Coil?

>I feel pretty confident with 3 bolts for now.  I figure, if a rattle comes
> back, I'll know right away I have trouble.
>
> But I think I'm going to try the helicoil repair this weekend.  I don't
> want
> to run 3 bolts long term.  Is the insert really that hard to install?  I
> figure, after I drill and tap, that the insert must be pretty easy to get
> in.  And, where I'm' doing it, I'll have easy access.  Not like doing this
> in an engine compartment.
>
> I ordered one of these kits:
> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002SREP4/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
> and a correctly sized drill bits.  We'll see how it goes....
>
> I was thinking of trying to get a nut up above... but I'm going to give
> the
> helicoil a shot first.  That seems like the "right way" to do this...
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 9:37 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
> scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>
>> so great that you found it.
>> you can get away with only 3 of those 4 bolts going into the frame, if
>> you
>> just want to be running quietly again and don't want to make a project
>> out
>> of it.
>>
>> ideally only one threaded hole is stripped and the other 3 are ok.
>> If I wanted to 'cheat' and stick the other 3 good ones in and leave
>> things
>> as be for now.
>> I'd remove them one at a time..
>> and put them back in with thread joint teflon tape on the threads.
>> that would help prevent corrosion on the threads of the 3 good ones.
>>
>> that's just my 'cheater' suggestion to make it better without fixing it
>> right really.
>>
>> I don't use threaded inserts much unless I have to.
>> depends on how much metal is there.
>> this would be nice ...
>> real nice....if on the bad one the bolt broke off in place...
>> then you could just dril and tap in place, and that threaded hole would
>> be
>> fine again.
>> If it's fully stripped out oversize ...then sure ...an insert type
>> repair.
>> I think of using those more in things like cylinder heads than frame
>> steel
>> though.
>>
>> I would hate to do this, but one could cut a small hole  through the side
>> of the frame there,  and rig a nut with a tap welded on it, what I call a
>> 'jam tap' to it would lock against something and not turn while you
>> tighten
>> teh bolt from below.
>>
>> Vans do run fine with only 3 good bolts holding that front trans mount to
>> the frame.
>>
>> how to treat the inside of the frame for rust though ..that's a trick.
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "pickle vanagon" <
>> greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Sent: Monday, June 14, 2010 5:46 PM
>> Subject: noise SOLVED. Now need to Heli-Coil?
>>
>>
>>
>>  Robert Fisher was right.
>>>
>>> Two of the transmission mount bolts weren't properly tightened.
>>>
>>> They weren't really loose, which is why when I was checking over
>>> everything
>>> (I stared at that transmission mount at least 6 different times) but I
>>> guess
>>> there was a little bit of wiggle room for the mount to pivot diagonally
>>> across the two looser screws.  I think when I went to tighten them,  I
>>> mistook resistance related to rust and the weight of the transmission as
>>> the
>>> bolt cap tightening down all the way.
>>>
>>> But now I have a problem.  One of the bolts, it seems, was made too
>>> tight.
>>> Or maybe the threads were already trashed.
>>>
>>> So now my noise is gone but one of the four tranny mount bolt holes has
>>> stripped out threads.  Is a heli-coil the answer here?  I've never had
>>> to
>>> deal with this kind of situation before.  Any help would be greatly(!!!)
>>> appreciated.  I guess I have to tap threads, and then insert the
>>> heli-coil?
>>>
>>> So, thanks to *everybody* that listened to my noise and gave me their
>>> feedback.  It could have been any of the things people suggested, and
>>> the
>>> encouragement to check over everything was exactly what I needed.
>>>
>>> Thanks again!!
>>>
>>
>>