Front cover stripped

[jacobbingham]

Well i was installing a new waterpump and was tightening on the top 2 bolts and the driver side on just kept going didnt tighten at all or even seem like it grabbed on. Now i dont know what to do. Also how hard is it to remove this front cover while the motors in the truck? I have 2 parts motors and could swap them out if its not too bad. Please help. Thankyou

 

[George D.]

I just had the same thing happen I tapped the cover one size bigger and drilled the water pump to match it seems to be holding even though I didn't torque that bolt all the way down because I felt like it was going to strip.

 

[jacobbingham]

Thanks George D. I guess that's what ill have to do. The cover looks too hard to take off without disassembling the front of the truck to get to it. Will Advanced have taps?

 

[Dieselcrawler]

just be VERY carefull with them top two bolts. if they are two long they will contact the IP gear and cause lots of cursing to insue.

 

[cm1hedge]

I would use heli-coils. I personally think all aluminum threads should be heli-coiled. So much stronger.

 

[jacobbingham]

What next size bolts would i need? If i was gonna tap out the hole to make it bigger

 

[George D.]

I was woried about helicoils being too long but if you trim them it might be the better way to go

 

[jacobbingham]

Where can you get those?

 

[The Warden]

FWIW pulling the cover with the engine in the truck isn't the easiest thing, but it is possible...I did it in 2004. You won't hate life quite as much if you pull the grille, radiator, and a/c condenser, but that should be all you need to disassemble in the front end.

On the converse, keep in mind that, when you're drilling, any metal shavings you can't recover will be going into the oil pan via the timing gears.

 

[gatorman21218]

Where can you get those?

http://www.mcmaster.com/#threaded-inserts/=fhaje7

fastenal and probably ace hardware might have them too. You need a special size tap to use them though.


Yep aluminum sucks for holding steel fasteners. My P/S pump once decided to "fall off" the engine. 2 of the 3 bolts pulled out of housing. Heliocoil fixed that problem.

 

[typ4]

its not aluminum, and I think an 8mm course thread will grab enough to hold. That plate is real thin so be careful, and that plate wont helicoil worth a crap.

 

[idi traveler]

its not aluminum, and I think an 8mm course thread will grab enough to hold. That plate is real thin so be careful, and that plate wont helicoil worth a crap.

If he going to pull the plate, is there room to weld a nut on the back?

 

[stumiister]

I had the same thing happen when I was reassembling my engine but it was on an engine stand, but I did use heli coils in both top holes.

 

[jacobbingham]

Which helicoils did you use? How did you go about it? Im trying to get this fixed so i can drive it

 

[stumiister]

I used the 5/16-18 or as I say 5/16 coarse thread, I got the kit from my local NAPA parts dealer, it came with a tap, the helicoil inserts and the tool to install the inserts, I believe the price was about $35, all you need to provide is the drill and the kit tells you what drill to use. Just follow the instructions on the kit and you wont get it wrong.