Timing Chain Cover stripped threads - Help!

[abrush]

Well luck has not been on my side lately and once again today I ran into a downfall. I had to remove the water pump on my 1970 Bronco with a 289 to replace it and noticed that the water pump bolts appeared smooth or stripped on the threads when I removed the bolts. However they were very tight and it took a lot of effort to get them to back out. When it came time to put the water pump back on a couple of the holes were indeed stripped as I can't get the bolts to tighten up again. I tried new bolts and even longer ones to no availability. Is there a fix for this or am I screwed again and have to remove the timing cover and replace with a new one???? Please advise.

 

[Bronco_69]

are you sure that you did not break them off in the block? which ones stripped? the top ones? jsut put a nut on the back of them.

 

[TBS-POPS]

which bolts?? the long ones that go into the block or the short ones that go into the cover only??? You can helicoil the short ones but I think you can buy a new cover cheaper than a helicoil kit...

 

[67u13]

just drill out the holes in the water pump and tap the timing cover to the next size

 

[abrush]

The bolt that I'm talking about is the lower bolt hole to the right of the lower water pump outlet. It is a shorter bolt and does not go into the block. You can't put a nut on the back of it though. Looks like I will be removing and replacing it.

 

[70_Steve]

The bolt that I'm talking about is the lower bolt hole to the right of the lower water pump outlet. It is a shorter bolt and does not go into the block. You can't put a nut on the back of it though. Looks like I will be removing and replacing it.

Use a Helicoil. You can get them several places, and I think Ace hardware carries some type of thread insert. For that bolt, you should be able to drill, tap and insert the helicoil without removing the timing cover.