Stripped out fuel pump mounting hole

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MileHighDart

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So I have my timing cover off, time to fix a stripped out fuel pump mounting hole.

Went to the hardware store, a kit to do a helicoil with the right drill, and tap and a few coils is like $36.00 And the coils that come with it are only about 1/2" long, so it won't even fix the entire hole.
Thinking I could almost buy a new timing cover for that.
What would you do, replace the whole cover or what? Other ideas?
 
Why not just put a little bigger bolt into it, drill and tap to it, there probably room on the fuel pump to open the hole just a bit more.
 
I've used Loctite Form a Thread for stripped thread repairs with great results. Check it out!! It is easy to use.
 
The box auto parts stores sometimes have kits a LOT cheaper than that. Or NAPA. Or, if you can get just the rigth tap and the right helicoil, then a pair of stout needle nose pliers can be sued to install it and break the tang off.

I'd use a helicoil, not the thread restorer IMHO; these bolts take some side stress as the pump operates and need to be very stable in the housing.
 
scott, i have one i'll give you, just come pick it up.........
fyi, i've used helicoil for stripped repairs, and i know.... a lot of times the coil does not repair the complete depth of the hole, but i've never had a problem with a repair. done right they seem just as strong, esp. when repairing aluminum.
higgs
 
Good used timing cover would be my path if I wasn't in a hurry to get'er done.
I cant believe I'm the only guy who bought a heli coil kit, used 1 coil and returned the remainder for refund. Clean the tap and correct its appearance with a black sharpie. Beats drilling a larger hole in every fuel pump for eternity.
 
The half inch help coil is plenty long.

You ar not launching the space shuttle off the timing cover are you?

If no, put th heli coil in and go.

By ththe time you get a good used one and a seal, or buy a new Ching chow made POS that leaks, you could have put the heli coil in and be done
 
Yeah it's not brain surgery, put the heli coil in it and go. If you're gonna do somethin like jury riggin puttin a bigger bolt in it, you might as well go all out and just fill the hole with JB Weld.
 
I wonder if a stepped diameter stud could be found today ? Like 38 one end , 5/16 on the other.
No matter how you conquer this hardware problem, lets not let this happen again.
Disconnect neg' battery cable. Loosen pivot bolt upper alternator and remove the lower adjust bolt. Drop those belts and rotate the alternator as far clockwise as you can, being careful not to damage those wire connections. Better access and line of sight always helps.
Turn the engine by hand to a point where the least spring pressure reflects to the fuel pump.
You cant get alignment bolt to hole with tool such as 1/2 inch drive, or thick walled, or deep well, socket.
 
since were talking about jerry riggin, JB weld and who knows what...what if you get a longer stud, in the correct size, screw it in and put a nut on the inside?
 
A nut on the inside may not interfere with timing chain, that is until the next time the bolt is removed. Wouldn't want dropped nut in there.
 
I cannot comprehend why in the hell everybody always wants to cut corners on a repair. Just do it right and get it over with. Like the other guy on here whose "friend" probably swapped or reversed a rod cap. Time to pull it and get it right.

Cutting corners on anything always leads to something bad happening. If not now then later on down the road.
 
YOU ARE OVERTHINKING THIS

Put the helicoil (registered copyrighted protected trademark brand name) in there and GO!!

10030707_2-mind-blown-best-head-explosions-in-horror-jpeg-66972.jpg
 
I cannot comprehend why in the hell everybody always wants to cut corners on a repair. Just do it right and get it over with. Like the other guy on here whose "friend" probably swapped or reversed a rod cap. Time to pull it and get it right.

Cutting corners on anything always leads to something bad happening. If not now then later on down the road.

Very true....

Bite the bullet and get the Heli-coil. It's not like you only get one thread repair for your $40..

3/8 coarse thread is used all over the engine, it won't hurt to have a couple Heli coils ready to go in case you have another thread to repair on a later project...
 
Unreal. I coulda had it fixed, bopped the old lady two, maybe three times, had lunch, a power nap and been on th road by now.

What gives? It can't be that hard.
 
You can, if you want to, use 2 coils, one stacked up on the other; if it looks to be too much coil, you can trim for length.
 
Unreal. I coulda had it fixed, bopped the old lady two, maybe three times, had lunch, a power nap and been on th road by now.

What gives? It can't be that hard.

She don't call you speedy for nuthin.... :poke:
 
You can, if you want to, use 2 coils, one stacked up on the other; if it looks to be too much coil, you can trim for length.

Yes, I've used two when I needed more thread...
 
Unreal. I coulda had it fixed, bopped the old lady two, maybe three times, had lunch, a power nap and been on the road by now.

What gives? It can't be that hard.

I couldn'ta said it any better........in fact, that sounded like me when I was readin it. lol
 
Heli-coil, Time-Cert, Nut-Cert, Drill and tap larger, All good Fix's.... "Nothing too it but to do it", is my motto !!
 
Unreal. I coulda had it fixed, bopped the old lady two, maybe three times, had lunch, a power nap and been on th road by now.

What gives? It can't be that hard.
LOL.. I think the next suggestion should be to just JB Weld the pump directly onto the timing cover and not even worry about bolts any more.....
 
i don't see why everyone's getting there panty's in a bunch, the op has not responded yet.

yes, there's responses that made me say "what?!?!?!" (in high tone) but until scott says something back, what's the deal? he has a couple of clear options, he's no dummy, let him respond...........there could be good reasons to him why he's weighing the options, patience.

occasionally i will ask for an opinion just to make sure that my thinking is in line with those that are well respected here, not that i need someone to tell me what to do.
higgs
 
Thanks higgs,
Just been busy with things other than the car this week, you know, like work and stuff!
I did hit a couple of auto parts places and found the kit for $21, much cheaper than the Ace hardware kit.
I'll be drilling it out and putting in a helicoil today. Was just looking for opinions on fixing, vs replacing the cover or whatever.

Brian, thanks for the offer, but I think I got it from here.
 
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