I'm in the middle of replacing my negative battery cable on my 92 5.8L. I have gotten everything situated except getting the ground bolt back into the engine block. I have been trying to get it on since 9PM last night, no joke. It simply won't go in. I have no idea what to do. I need my truck tomorrow morning for a job interview and to work on for a local farm, moving hay. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

What do you mean, it won't go in? You can't get the threads to catch, or you've got it going but it won't tighten down all the way?

Did you take any other bolts out? If so, did you maybe mix up the block bolt with one that goes somewhere else?

If for example you have 2 bolts that are different lengths, the short bolt will go all the way into the hole meant for the long bolt, but the long bolt won't seat all the way into the hole meant for the short bolt.

 

Threads won't catch. Also, it was the only one I removed off the block. Only other removed bolt was the frame ground, which I already got in.

 

And you didn't mix the frame and block bolts up? Not trying to offend you, but it can't hurt to check. the threads could be different between the 2 of them, and one might fit in loosely but still tighten up.

If you've got the right bolt and it won't go in, then one thing it could be is that the threads are messed up either in the block or on the bolt itself, or you're not approaching the hole straight with the bolt. Sometimes it can be tough to tell if you're threading it in straight on, especially when you can't even see what you're working on.

The other thing it could be is... mud daubers. Don't know if you have them where you live or how long the bolt was out of the block, but down here it wouldn't surprise me one bit to pull a bolt out, go inside for the night, and come back out the next day to find that a mud dauber has made a home in the bolt hole.

 

Yeah, I kept the frame bolt with the old cable, screwed in its old place, so I wouldn't lose it before putting it in. Also, the block bolt is attached to a hanger for some lines.

As for anything in there, I don't think I have a mud dauber problem, haha. I did clean out the hole and the bolt, though, just in case.

I'm not thinking there is an issue with the bolt to block problem. It came off alright.

Gotta love these tight spaces for the important things. I wish I could invest in a telescoping mirror and small light for it.

 

How are the threads on the bolt, do they look ok?

 

After cleaning off with a paper towel, the bolt looks like it is from the store.

 

Well, I would put a piece of rubber on the head off the bolt and try turning it in, the piece of rubber hose lets you jiggy it around, yet it won't let you cross thread as the hose will slip if it starts to cross thread it

 

That didn't really make a difference.

 

Sounds like the bolt is going though a bracket thats not lined up right , if so make sure its lined up right , you may have to loosen some other bolts that hold it.....

 

If you can't get it to go in the original hole, Try to put it on a different bolt somewhere that is easier to access. At least you will be able to run the truck and make it to your interview.

Also, try running a tap through the hole to chase the threads. Clean the hole with some type of spray lube first. Or maybe try a new bolt.