Stripped Starter Bolts. Am I in trouble?

[bbbc3]

Well, after about a 40 mile drive on the highway, the drone and vibration from my 4spd and engine rattled the starter bolts out. To a point where they are gone. I'm lucky the starter was hung up on something and didn't fall to the hwy. On their way out they ate up the threads in the bolt holes. I bought new bolts but they will not tighten down, they are stripped.

Has anyone else gone through this trouble? What are my options?

 

[1996xlt]

My guess would be if you can't chase and tap the threads in-place (which may be difficult judging by your pictures) you'd probably need a new/used bell-housing.

 

[Bronco638]

You have two choices as far as I can tell;

1 - Heli-Coil the two bolt holes to use the o.e. sized bolts. If you have that much vibration, use Loc-Titie or safety wire to secure them.

2 - Drill thru the (stripped) blind hole and use a bolt/lock washer/nut to hold the starter in-place. I'd go with stainless steel hardware to ensure those fasteners are serviceable when the time comes to replace the starter.

HTH

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

2 - Drill thru the (stripped) blind hole and use a bolt/lock washer/nut to hold the starter in-place. I'd go with stainless steel hardware to ensure those fasteners are serviceable when the time comes to replace the starter.

HTH

I would use grade 5 hardware so the soft SS hardware doesn't snap/strip and leave you with the same starterless situation you find yourself in now.

Just Helicoil it and run with it.

 

[straycat]

If you can't Helicoil it.....it might just be best to find a good housing and put it on. It might just be a faster repair to do this.

 

[yourdudeness]

stripped starter bolt threads

i drilled out the bell housing hole all the way out,,,,,,, cheap fix no problem use two flat washers and a lock washer,,,, i used a 3/8 bolt also cheaper,,,,,, a right angle drill might prove to be worth it here not that much room here

 

[wildbill23c]

Don't bother with the thread repair nonsense, just drill the holes through, install bolts with washers and lock nuts and be done with it or you'll forever be having starter problems. Someone tried one of those helicoils in one of the holes for the starter in my B2 and that didn't work obviously as the bolt would never stay tight, I now have a through bolt on that particular hole and haven't had no-start issues sense then.

 

[AgPete139]

IMO, I would do the drill-through hole method, too.

I had to do this recently on a water outlet housing on an MR2. Much easier, and that was with it OUT of the vehicle. Just use Grade 5 or better hardware. Never worry about stripped or puling threads again.

 

[dangerranger83]

Drill through.