HELP - Broken waterpump bolt
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 158
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From: Stratton, Ontario
HELP - Broken waterpump bolt
At the shop with the mechanic. One of waterpump mounting bolts was already broken when taking the waterpump off. Its the one closest to the thermostat housing. Any easy fix?
Everything mentions taking out the engine to get the timing cover off. Wonder if there were any suggestions?
I'm thinking just silicon the **** out of it and cross my fingers.
Thanks guys.
Everything mentions taking out the engine to get the timing cover off. Wonder if there were any suggestions?
I'm thinking just silicon the **** out of it and cross my fingers.
Thanks guys.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,121
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From: Orrville, Ohio
I wouldn't replace the front cover to get out one busted bolt (you do in fact have to pull the engine to replace the front cover). I wouldn't just silicone it up and call it good either though. If it were me, I would do everything in my power to remove that bolt. Remove the radiator (if they haven't already), pull the grill and A/C Condenser and then try to drill the bolt out. I would also be tempted to use some heat, penetrating oil, whatever and an easy out to try to extract the bolt. If it won't come then I would drill it out and either re-tap the hole the next size up or insert a helicoil and then re-assemble it (assuming there is enough meat in the cover there to allow you to do so). I wouldn't rush to pull the front cover over one broken bolt....
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Stratton, Ontario
The bolt split down the center for about 1/4", so 1/2 is flush with the block and the other 1/2 is a 1/4" inside the block. Not a good presentation.
I left it in the shop. He was trying to turn it out with a screwdriver (had done that before). He is also trying to punch it and try and get an edge he can drill on.
I figure for the cost option of 2k for pulling the motor, he can spend some time thinking up interesting ways to fix it otherwise.
I left it in the shop. He was trying to turn it out with a screwdriver (had done that before). He is also trying to punch it and try and get an edge he can drill on.
I figure for the cost option of 2k for pulling the motor, he can spend some time thinking up interesting ways to fix it otherwise.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,347
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From: Maysville, Kentucky
Who broke the bolt, you or him? I know it's your truck but it's partially on him that it broke if he broke it. I know if I broke something working on small engines the customer wasn't charged to fix that problem( Granted a much smaller scale).
A little penetrating oil and a small propane torch it should come right out. I highly doubt that it was crossed threaded. Probably just the normal steel to aluminum love.
A little penetrating oil and a small propane torch it should come right out. I highly doubt that it was crossed threaded. Probably just the normal steel to aluminum love.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Stratton, Ontario
Neither of us broke the bolt. It was already broken. I watched him take them all out while we were BSing. It was loose and he pulled it straight out. Must have broke with the vibrations of the motor.
He said it was the first time he found a broken one on a 7.3, but it happened a lot on the 302's.
Although he did blame me as a jinx when I had told another guy in the shop that fear of breaking a bolt was why I brought it into the shop.
He said it was the first time he found a broken one on a 7.3, but it happened a lot on the 302's.
Although he did blame me as a jinx when I had told another guy in the shop that fear of breaking a bolt was why I brought it into the shop.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Maysville, Kentucky
Oh ok I got ya. Just didn't want you to get shafted. I would try lite heat and a good pair of vice grips. Got quite a few bolts out this way.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Stratton, Ontario
Vise-grips won't work. I don't know how easy this is to visualize, but imagine the following dashed lines to represent different castings which the bolt goes through.
It goes through the water pump, the timing cover and into the block. The pump is off, but the timing cover is still in the way.
---------------------- ----------------------------------------- Water pump
---------------------- ----------------------------------------- Timing cover
----------------------ll----------------------------------------- Block
----------------------llll---------------------------------------- Block
----------------------llll---------------------------------------- Block
It goes through the water pump, the timing cover and into the block. The pump is off, but the timing cover is still in the way.
---------------------- ----------------------------------------- Water pump
---------------------- ----------------------------------------- Timing cover
----------------------ll----------------------------------------- Block
----------------------llll---------------------------------------- Block
----------------------llll---------------------------------------- Block
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,347
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From: Maysville, Kentucky
Oh ok I miss understood. Thought it was in the the aluminum. Well that sucks. Well time to move on to an easy out and a real steady guy with a drill. Depending on what long bolt it is you may be able to get a little heat on the block to help get it loose.
Which one is it lol. ( I know not the best pic but all I have uploaded )
Which one is it lol. ( I know not the best pic but all I have uploaded )
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