Some stupid ass stripped the auto tensioner bolt hole.

[xfxBaker]

Onto the timing belt. Struggled with it for a couple of hours last night and a couple today. Mostly keeping everything lined up and getting the upper tension pulley on. After that I had problems with the auto tensioner POS!

I got pissed off and just drove the bottom bolt in after struggling for half an hour trying to get it to thread. Big mistake. It stripped the block threads. I made a bigger mistake of pulling it back out. Now it has no tension when trying to torque down.

I know a heli-coil is in order but you just can't fit the tools in there. Theres no f****** way man! NO F****** WAY!

I have a tap, heli-coils and the tool to insert them. You can't get anything in there. I tried lowering the engine as far as it would go and no dice. I'm gonna have to either use thread lock and just stuff it in there or pull the godamn engine out which I should have done in the first place to make this whole thing easier.

WHY did I do that?!

[xfxBaker]

I don't want to but I might just use loctite and be done with it. The top hole seems to do most of the work anyway..as long as the bottom is in there and stays.

Other than that the only thing I can think of doing is cutting the inner body out so that I can get the tools in there to fix it right.

[wilfredom]

Baker, I think u have posted the worst problem that can happen to a mechanic with a good chunk of knowledge & tools..I know the feeling..To make things even worst, I don't have a suggestion to ur prob. Just to tell u to take it easy..use ur mind not ur grunt to reach a logical alternative .. good luck bud !!
PS like ur R1 !!

[xfxBaker]

Originally Posted by wilfredom

Baker, I think u have posted the worst problem that can happen to a mechanic with a good chunk of knowledge & tools..I know the feeling..To make things even worst, I don't have a suggestion to ur prob. Just to tell u to take it easy..use ur mind not ur grunt to reach a logical alternative .. good luck bud !!
PS like ur R1 !!

Thanks man, glad you can relate. I'm going to try and heli-coil it. I'll buy a close quarter drill and if that doesn't get it i'll cut out a section of the inner body. Using my thread gauge it seems the bolt is 8mm x 1.25 pitch so i'll run by the auto parts store and see if they have a kit for me.

P.S. So that i'm not contradicting my first post, the heli-coil kit I have was from another project and is not the right size. Thus the reason why I need to buy the kit for this F-up here.

[wilfredom]

well, if ur gonna amputate ur milli, u better think how ur gonna weld some steel back in place of the piece cut .. just covering every angle of the fix..best luck..

[yel-low]

Originally Posted by xfxBaker

It stripped the block threads.

Welcome to the big boys club.


Did you not compress the tensioner before you bolted it down?

Honestly once you pull that engine out for the first time, you will NEVER think about doing any type of semi major work on it with the engine in the car.

[T2T]

Some stupid ass stripped the auto tensioner bolt hole.

Who's this individual you speak of?

[xfxBaker]

Originally Posted by wilfredom

well, if ur gonna amputate ur milli, u better think how ur gonna weld some steel back in place of the piece cut .. just covering every angle of the fix..best luck..

Maybe..maybe not lol. I've got a welder though...

Originally Posted by yel-low

Welcome to the big boys club.


Did you not compress the tensioner before you bolted it down?

Honestly once you pull that engine out for the first time, you will NEVER think about doing any type of semi major work on it with the engine in the car.

Thanks for the warm welcome. I compressed it, yes. I struggled to get the top bolt in because of the pulley putting resistance against it but then I couldn't get the bottom to go in for the life of me. I don't know why. I really wish I had stepped back and thought about it some more before doing what I did. Oh well the damage is done and $80 later I have what I need to fix it. Had to buy a close quarter drill, (not sure if it is even small enough) had to get the heli-coil kit and of course I couldn't find just one drill bit so I had to buy a whole case for $30.

Originally Posted by T2T

Who's this individual you speak of?

I wonder.. lol

[yel-low]

Very tight squeeze in there. I wonder if you might have to cut your drill bit too? So sorry you are going through this headache bro, although I can personally say I've been down this road myself before.

[wilfredom]

how about a hole saw?..??..3"..?....remove fender ?? ..