Nickodell
Donation Time
I stripped the thread on the socket into which the top bolt for the alternator adjustment arm goes, and I'll have to drill it out oversize and re-tap from 1/4" to 5/16". OK so far, except it's an awkward sod of a job requiring the removal of the radiator and top belt pulley.
However, on removing the old bolt I notice that only 1/4" of the 1 3/4" bolt is actually threaded into the cast iron of the block - the rest spins free in the aluminum timing chain housing it has to pass through. A quarter of an inch is a very small amound of "meat" for the torque required, which no doubt is why it stripped so easily.
Question: Does anyone know how much further I can drill into the block to deepen this hole before penetrating water jackets etc? This is especially important as it is a blind hole, making it difficult to tap threads even to the end of the already inadequate 1/4."
However, on removing the old bolt I notice that only 1/4" of the 1 3/4" bolt is actually threaded into the cast iron of the block - the rest spins free in the aluminum timing chain housing it has to pass through. A quarter of an inch is a very small amound of "meat" for the torque required, which no doubt is why it stripped so easily.
Question: Does anyone know how much further I can drill into the block to deepen this hole before penetrating water jackets etc? This is especially important as it is a blind hole, making it difficult to tap threads even to the end of the already inadequate 1/4."