As many of you guys know by now, ATI sends you three washers to space the crank bolt with (that holds the harmonic balancer and SC pulley in place).

A few of us have already had this bolt back out under certain conditions (maybe increase HP levels of stage two or a smaller pulley). From what I can see, the problem is that the washer resting agaist the bolt head gets stressed and a depression is wallowed out in the washer's inner circumference.

The Pulley begins to rotate on the bolt and subseqeuntly unscrews the bolt from the crank. Your first indication of this will be reduced boost levels, and then a rattling noise at idle as the bolt backs further out.

Best case is you fix it and torque it back in. It is likely you will lose the three dowel pins it comes with. Worse case is the pulley becomes deformed enough to not spin true. Worst case it reams out the crank threads and you have to replace your crank.

(At least, those are three scenarios I foresee.)

Jason at Golden West Performance recommended I cut the bolt and use only one washer. (He does this, now.) I was a bit anxious about cutting it the right length, and apparently some of you are, too.

Here is what I did. Someone may come up with a better way, but this is what worked for me. (You cannot simply stick something in to measure the length... there is additional cavity length beyond where the bolt stops if you try to measure all the way back.)

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See how many washers it takes to tighten it until your crank begins to turn. (Make sure the blower pulley is on when you do this. <img src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" border="0"> )
It may take three or four washers.

If it's four, try cutting the width of 4 washer widths off it.

If it's three, try cutting 3 washer widths off it. (I think three is the norm, but mine was four.)

(Let me warn you, this bolt is VERY hard and will take a while to hack through.) <img src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" border="0">

Then use one washer when you torque it down. If you didn't quite cut it enough and one washer is not enough, you have a choice of cutting or grinding a little more off or just using two washers. (That's GOT to be better than using 3 or 4).

This worked for me. Make sure you are comfortable with how you decide to do it, but I think you'll agree the process makes sense.

I double-checked by seeing how much slack was between the pulley and the harmonic balancer BEFORE cutting the bolt, with no washers on it to try to determine how much to cut, also. I think this will give you a warm and fuzzy feeling. <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

Good luck!

 

Just use hardened washers and be done with it. You can buy them at Fastenal stores. You should have at least 1 1/2 times the thread dia. engagement in the crank for the best holding power of the fastener. Bob

 

Someone can experiment... I just know what works... even after I put the 422 in with the tremendous torque it puts down! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />

 

The turner kit I just bought (disc 8lb for 98-02) from ati has only one washer for the crank bolt and there is no mention of any more than one in the instructions. Has ati fixed this problem?

 

If the bolt fits with one washer, it sounds like it has been fixed! That would be GREAT!

 

Black ls1 t/a is right > cut the bolt. If you want to put a deadly bandaid on it just throw some washer to seperate the differance. But I personaly wouldn't put my motors life in the hands of some hardened washers! > for god sakes you just spent somewhere around $5000.00 on a new blower > do it right! <img border="0" alt="[shoot]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_guns.gif" />

 

When i got my kit in January it only came with 1 washer too. But I think i'm going to find a lock washer the same size as the ATI washer. I know that's not going to back out.

 

ttt for ya <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

 

Conrad, ttt for ya.

 

ttt for ya

 

Anyone have the SPECS of the washer that ATI supplies with the kits, I need one of these washers, I misplaced mine, and this is going to stop me from installing the cog stuff.......TTT

 

Pm'ed you bos with the specs on that washer

 

Thanks for the info Jer, I pmed you back w/another ? of course.....

 

I had an issue with this tonight, I'm using the blue ATI crank bolt that was supplied, with 2 washers, the bolt hasn't been cut yet, should I cut it and only use one washer, should I cut off the width of one washer?

 

I cut 3 threads off of mine, but you sound like you are on the right track. But make sure that you clean up the end of the bolt or else it makes it a little harder to screw it back in by hand. And yes use RED locktite, I have never had an issue getting the bolt back off with the red stuff. I only have one washer on mine now.
Sorry to hear that there was another cog belt hacking today
J

 

Yea, I'm kind of glad I cut it though, because there is NOTICEABLE wear on one side of the belt, and the other is fine.......

 

I just was under the car.......

All 3 pins are MIA, with some nice scratches around the area, where the bolt thread marks used to be from where I did the original damage w/the 8 rib stuff are now scared with the pin marks from this setup...

I didn't have the right extension to turn the crank bolt, but having a socket a little bit on there it was able to turn some.....didn't back out too far, but the pulley is free spinning.....looks like I might have to tow it after all...........

My 100 piece craftsman at the house isn't cutting it.........