Were you using a FOOT or INCH pounds torque wrench. I don't even own an INCH pounds wrench, so I would just naturally grab the wrench I had and torque the sucker down to what I thought was the correct number. You need an INCH pound, if you were trying to torque to foot pounds you would be WAY over torquing.

 

torque setting for those belly pan bolts is very light, only 7 foot pounds (84 inch pounds). thats not much more than finger tight.

 

I used a FOOT pound wrench but had set it at 7 foot pounds (84 inch pounds). 3/8" drive. When I used the Mopar bolts, they didn't spin on me. Like I said, I follow instructions from Hughes.

 

When I went to do mine and pulled out my 3/8" torque wrench, I realized it didn't even go that low (starts at 120" lbs) so I tightened in the sequence using a 1/4" wrachet and tightened till I felt comfortable with it.

 

Thats exactly what I did, I finger tighten them then used the torque wrench. I went slow, took my time, follow instructions, used lock-tite on the bolts. The bolt just kept turning.

 

what probably happened was the previous owner went to torque the bolts down and they probably bottomed out and they kept torquing them and striped the threads.
your best bet would be to go on craigslist and look for a used one (usually pretty cheap like $50) or try your luck at a junkyard.

and i see you own a neon... i just traded my 05 sxt for my truck a couple months ago, and i really miss that little car!

 

Wouldn't a Heli-Coil kit be even cheaper? Just wondering... I haven't had to replace any bits or pieces of mine in years so I don't know if the prices have gone up significantly.

 

Honestly, I don't think anyone has ever messed with the plenum. It looked all factory, even with the cheap-o pan gasket. Mopar plenum bolts were only 15 bucks at the dealer and they already come with, what it looked like, gasket maker. They worked, torque them down and none of them never spun.

I love my Neon, its zippy around town/highway. It's modified for handling plus some engine goodies. I don't think I could ever get rid of it.