Stripped water pump bolt hole in block

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rmchrgr

rmchrgr

Skate And Destroy
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OK, so I am in the final stages of getting my car back together and was starting to put the accessories on. While tightening down the lower left water pump bolt, I felt/heard a loud metallic snap. So I pulled the bolt back out and a thread came out with it. Crap!

This bolt was for the alternator adjusting bracket. Guess I didn't realize it was too short since it worked with my mechanical WP but I recently changed to an electric with some different spacers. Evidently, it was a thread shy.

So after I pulled the first bolt out, I was able to thread in a longer bolt and tighten it down sufficiently. I used teflon paste on the bolt threads.

Here's the question - would you pull the timing cover and heli-coil it? I really don't want to since I was able to tighten the longer bolt down. I dunno though.

What to do?
 
That bolt is what? 3/8"? The torque spec on that is probably "around" 20 "or so" LB FT, certainly no more than 25. Get the torque wrench out. If you can go between 20-25, leave her be.
 
I thought 'heli-coil' when I first read this, but that hole being subject to slow coolant incursion and corrosion, a heli-coil could pull out later. I think I would do like you did; leave it be if it got 4-5 threads engaged.
 
Thanks, I am not going to screw around with it. Hoping I don't have to take it out again for any reason at this point.

My car hates me.
 
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