Rep Power: 50

So ya. Thought I was seating the valve cover all nice. The rear left (facing the engine) screw just went pop and that was it. Would t catch again.

I have a heli-coil kit, and see some threads saying they are used on heads. I figure I can do it for the valve cover. Opinions please??

I am amazed at how easily these aluminum blocks and heads strip out. I don’t remember these issues in the old days.

 
Rep Power: 222

So you stripped the hole in the head for the valve cover bolt?
you can helicoil it, just be careful to not get any metal bits in the engine

 
Rep Power: 224

You didn't just break the bolt, did you?

 
Rep Power: 50

No. Bolt is just fine.

 
Rep Power: 50

Update. Helicoil works! Had to put in two of them but worked great. Impressed my buddy who never used them and was quite skittish.

car is running! Finally!

 
Rep Power: 210

Helicoils work very well as long as they don't get much use. They don't hold up well for bolts that get removed and reinserted often.
A Timesert install is better in a repeated use situation. However, Timeserts are much more expensive.

 
Rep Power: 0

What would likely happen if too many shavings landed in the engine?

 
Rep Power: 511

Shavings could get caught in places they shouldn't be. If, by some chance, it made it between a bearing and the surface that rotates within said bearing, could lead to damage or premature wear.. Ideally, the oil filter would pick it up or it'll come out with an oil change. If you forgot about dropping a good amount of shavings into the engine and you saw it in an oil change (or a tech saw them in an oil change), you (or they) may freak out thinking your engine is broken. Moving slowly and vacuuming up any metal chips is always going to be the safest bet.