How to tap a deep hole?

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No, if you don't mind sending it-that would be great Steve!
 
3/8-16 actually need to go down a hair longer than two inches

Are we talking about needing 2 inches for strength? I am not a machinist, but I was always taught that 1 to 1/2 times the diameter of the bolt was sufficient.
 
Sounds like you need a long 3/8-16 #3 tap, also known as a "bottoming tap." A given size of most taps come in -1, -2, and -3. The -3 have nearly square threads on the bottom, with only a slight taper to get them started. They're designed to be used after starting the hole with a regular tap. You car order sets in all three tapers from places like MSC, Fastenal or McMaster-Carr. Or find an old school machinist.

McMaster-Carr
 
Are we talking about needing 2 inches for strength? I am not a machinist, but I was always taught that 1 to 1/2 times the diameter of the bolt was sufficient.

Yeah, in steel or cast iron that's ok.
Look at a steel nut. The height of a nut is not 1.5X the thread diameter. Max height is .337 per ASTM, or approx 90% of thread dia.
A general rule of thumb is minimum thread depth = 2X thread dia in aluminum.

If the OP is going to fill that depth of thread with a steel screw, it's not necessary. And good luck removing that fastener in 10 years.

Just looked at an aluminum Mopar Performance manifold and it has (2) .35 diameter thru holes and one .48 diameter thru hole in that location.
 
Are we talking about needing 2 inches for strength? I am not a machinist, but I was always taught that 1 to 1/2 times the diameter of the bolt was sufficient.

Yeah, in steel or cast iron that's ok.
Look at a steel nut. The height of a nut is not 1.5X the thread diameter. Max height is .337 per ASTM, or approx 90% of thread dia.
A general rule of thumb is minimum thread depth = 2X thread dia in aluminum.

If the OP is going to fill that depth of thread with a steel screw, it's not necessary. And good luck removing that fastener in 10 years.

Just looked at an aluminum Mopar Performance manifold in my basement and it has (2) .35 diameter thru holes and one .48 diameter thru hole in that location.
AND, my 68 FSM shows thru bolts inserted from the top with nuts under the exhaust manifold. NOT bolts going into tapped holes.
 
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