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What the hell is going on with my crankbolt

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Old Aug 21, 2004 | 07:37 PM
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Default What the hell is going on with my crankbolt

Well..
I'm finally putting the car back together. I was installing my ASP pulley. I used the install tool sold by 2xLS1. Got it on very easy.

Now it's time to install the crankbolt. I bought a factory replacement from the dealer. Bolt went in, grab and started to tighten. Then it just started to spin once it was almost torqued down.

Pulled it out and quite a few of the crank threads were on the crankbolt. I looked inside the crank with a flashlight and it appears that a few of the middle threads broke off.

Here's the funny thing.. My install tool from 2xLS1 will screw all the way in and not spin. But that damn factory bolt is trash. We looked at the size of the pulley tool and the threads on the factory bolt. The install tool is a bit wider than the factory bolt.

I just placed an order for an ARP Harmonic Balancer Bolt. Do you guys think this would solve my problem.

The bolt I ordered from GM was just bare. The one that I received when I did my first cam swap from TSP had a thick locktite on the end. Does this make any sense?
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Old Aug 21, 2004 | 08:35 PM
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That's not good. I also bought the pulley tool from 2xLS1 and it's identical size to the brand new GM bolt I bought from Thunder. GM part # 12557840. Does the nut from the tool fit the GM bolt? It should. If not, sounds like you got the wrong bolt from the dealer.
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Old Aug 22, 2004 | 03:00 PM
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Been there...done that. It sucks. your crank threads are prolly toast. Ive had the same problem. You have 2 options really. New crank or pulling the motor and gettin it drilled/tapped for a larger size. Thats really about it. you could try helicoiling it but dont know anyone that has done it and it worked.

It sucks.....i know.
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Old Sep 10, 2004 | 06:08 PM
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helocoil can be your friend. it will even hold the 140 degree turn :O
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Old Sep 10, 2004 | 06:48 PM
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That is why I was reluctant to get into this intense cranking they recommend. When it was fully seated, that was enough. A good machine show could fix it. That would be much better than messing up your crank even more if you aren't sure what is wrong or how to fix it.
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Old Sep 10, 2004 | 06:53 PM
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We already fixed this problem. It wasn't completely stripped. For some reason only a few of the middle treads broke of, so we cleaned the hole and bolt a new bolt.

PROBLEM SOLVED
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Old Sep 11, 2004 | 06:56 AM
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good deal man!
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Old Sep 11, 2004 | 07:50 AM
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glad to hear you got it fixed,that could have been a royal pain in the ***.i'm doing a cam swap as I write this(just taking a break)keeping my fingers crossed that I dont run into any issues with the crank bolt..
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Old Sep 11, 2004 | 05:40 PM
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make sure u have a new one then
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