The thing that the water pump bolts onto

If your bolts are all F'd up. just get some 3/8 all-thread and cut it into similar sizes and run them in finger tight with some RTV on them, then you can trim them and use them as studs with some nuts. The constant removing of those water jacket bolts wears them out. Ive seen the ends look like burned pencils. Makes pulling the front a little cumbersome (youll need to have some radiator clearance) but youll never lose the bolts or where they go.