Long Bolt for pulley install is stuck...
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas
Long Bolt for pulley install is stuck... I am in the middle of a cam install and the long bolt to put the pulley on is stuck (wont untighten or tighten). This is a stock pulley and it as never hammerd in by anything. It got torqued down with a 1/2 impact and then it got stuck. I have searched but have not really found the answer to this. I have been told it is more than likely the inside of the crank threads got stripped or the bolt itself got stripped?
I was told by a shop that they would have to pull the motor out and replace the crank if it was stripped!!
Has anyone else had this problem??
sorry if I posted this twice it just really sucks having this happen...
I was told by a shop that they would have to pull the motor out and replace the crank if it was stripped!!
Has anyone else had this problem??
sorry if I posted this twice it just really sucks having this happen...
I am in the middle of a cam install and the long bolt to put the pulley on is stuck (wont untighten or tighten).
Are you referring to the stock harmonic balancer bolt?
Or are you using a piece of threaded rod to install the pulley onto the crank?
It got torqued down with a 1/2 impact and then it got stuck.
NEVER use an impact to install a harmonic balancer. For many reasons it is highly frowned upon.
I have been told it is more than likely the inside of the crank threads got stripped or the bolt itself got stripped?
All are possible scenarios. They are not of importance at this point, though. You must get the bolt out and examine both the crank and bolt threads.
If the crank threads are damaged you'll want to either:
- use a thread CHASER (not a tap) to clean up the threads. Or you could shave down two sides of the stock balancer bolt to clean up the threads.
- Helicoil a new set of threads into the crank
I was told by a shop that they would have to pull the motor out and replace the crank if it was stripped!!
It depends.
Are you referring to the stock harmonic balancer bolt?
Or are you using a piece of threaded rod to install the pulley onto the crank?
It got torqued down with a 1/2 impact and then it got stuck.
NEVER use an impact to install a harmonic balancer. For many reasons it is highly frowned upon.
I have been told it is more than likely the inside of the crank threads got stripped or the bolt itself got stripped?
All are possible scenarios. They are not of importance at this point, though. You must get the bolt out and examine both the crank and bolt threads.
If the crank threads are damaged you'll want to either:
- use a thread CHASER (not a tap) to clean up the threads. Or you could shave down two sides of the stock balancer bolt to clean up the threads.
- Helicoil a new set of threads into the crank
I was told by a shop that they would have to pull the motor out and replace the crank if it was stripped!!
It depends.
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas
Originally Posted by CANNIBAL
I am in the middle of a cam install and the long bolt to put the pulley on is stuck (wont untighten or tighten).
Are you referring to the stock harmonic balancer bolt?
Or are you using a piece of threaded rod to install the pulley onto the crank?
It got torqued down with a 1/2 impact and then it got stuck.
NEVER use an impact to install a harmonic balancer. For many reasons it is highly frowned upon.
I have been told it is more than likely the inside of the crank threads got stripped or the bolt itself got stripped?
All are possible scenarios. They are not of importance at this point, though. You must get the bolt out and examine both the crank and bolt threads.
If the crank threads are damaged you'll want to either:
- use a thread CHASER (not a tap) to clean up the threads. Or you could shave down two sides of the stock balancer bolt to clean up the threads.
- Helicoil a new set of threads into the crank
I was told by a shop that they would have to pull the motor out and replace the crank if it was stripped!!
It depends.
Are you referring to the stock harmonic balancer bolt?
Or are you using a piece of threaded rod to install the pulley onto the crank?
It got torqued down with a 1/2 impact and then it got stuck.
NEVER use an impact to install a harmonic balancer. For many reasons it is highly frowned upon.
I have been told it is more than likely the inside of the crank threads got stripped or the bolt itself got stripped?
All are possible scenarios. They are not of importance at this point, though. You must get the bolt out and examine both the crank and bolt threads.
If the crank threads are damaged you'll want to either:
- use a thread CHASER (not a tap) to clean up the threads. Or you could shave down two sides of the stock balancer bolt to clean up the threads.
- Helicoil a new set of threads into the crank
I was told by a shop that they would have to pull the motor out and replace the crank if it was stripped!!
It depends.
Last edited by ws.6kid; Nov 21, 2004 at 02:29 AM. Reason: found out it was the long bolt n othe stock tsp crank bolt
Originally Posted by ws.6kid
Its the long crank bolt that comes with TSP cam kits...
You use the previously used crank bolt you removed from the car originally to re-seat the pulley per GM's instructions. Once the pulley is seated you remove the bolt, install the new GM bolt and torque it to 36 lb/ft then rotate it an additional 140*. The instructions to doing this are on http://www.ls1howto.com
However, even doing it this way can damage the threads.
The most secure way to do it is via a harmonic balancer installer that uses a threaded rod and nut combo to seat the pulley. You then remove the rod, install the new bolt and torque as above.
[b]It got torqued down with a 1/2 impact and then it got stuck.
Damn, I stopped reading it right there
You are in for a long shitty road to get that thing out... PM a user on here that goes by the screen name "tapout", it ended up costing him $800 when he broke the long bolt off in his crank 
Ok the car in question is at my house. WS.6kid is doing the best he can to describe what's goin on as it is his car. A mutual friend of ours was doing the cam install. It is NOT the stock crank bolt nor the one that came with the TSP kit. It is a bolt the same size roughly an inch longer as you are supposed to use a slightly longer bolt to pull the harmonic balancer on and seat it and then install the stock length bolt that comes with the kit. He did use and impact but that's only good to 140 lb. ft. so that being said I don't see how it would have screwed it up. It will thread out to a certain point with no problems but then just siezes up and he does not want to just keep trying to take it out and mess it up worse but I think that's what is going to have to happen. We even tried to brace a breaker bar against the frame and turn over the motor in the so that it would loosen the bolt but it physically slowed down the motor because it's in such a bind. I'm hoping and praying we can get it out and rethread it somehow so that the motor doesn't have to be pulled and a new crank or repairs to the existing crank have to be done. I'll keep everyone updated with this nightmare. this should clarify everything.
Jarred
Jarred
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas
Ok now it has gone from bad to worse... Yesterday i ended up breaking the bolt in the crank. There is about a inch of bolt in the crank. Hopefully i can have it taken out and maybe the crank threads are ok?
This sucks I have everything installed except this damn pulley. I wanna hear my cam!
This sucks I have everything installed except this damn pulley. I wanna hear my cam!
Something that will help the stock balancer go back on pretty easily is about an hour before you get ready to install it, set your oven in your house to a very low setting (I use 200*) and stick the balancer in there for about and hour.. get your oven mitts, pull it out of the oven and install it on the car while it is still hot. Works DAMN good.. Cablebandit off this site gave me that idea.
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
That sucks man. i assume you have a tap set? its not to hard to pull a boolt out, but getting the drill up in there will be a pain in the ***. I had a bolt shear off once in my alternator bracket while i was racing. it threw the belt off and shredded it.
Of course your case is worse
Of course your case is worse
Last edited by 95Snoozer; Nov 18, 2004 at 01:45 PM.
TECH Addict
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,620
Likes: 0
From: Central, MA
What gets damaged when an impact is used?
FWIW, I heated my pulley with propane when I went to install it (the second time). I slide it up to the seal by hand.
I didn't get stupid with the propane, just got it hot enough to make it very uncomfortable to hold onto the center section of the pulley.
FWIW, I heated my pulley with propane when I went to install it (the second time). I slide it up to the seal by hand.
I didn't get stupid with the propane, just got it hot enough to make it very uncomfortable to hold onto the center section of the pulley.
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas
Well i dont know if I can get this bolt out its pretty far in there, it is at least 2 inches before i can feel the end of it with my pinky and theres about 1-2 inches of bolt in the crank. 
It looks like I will have to get a new crank...
I had this guy do the cam install and told him iwuold pay him 300 dollars to do it. He then got the crank bolt stuck during reassembling everything. I started off with a 300 dollar cam kit job now it has escalated $700 plus. Im mentally sick right now.
Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.
It looks like I will have to get a new crank...
I had this guy do the cam install and told him iwuold pay him 300 dollars to do it. He then got the crank bolt stuck during reassembling everything. I started off with a 300 dollar cam kit job now it has escalated $700 plus. Im mentally sick right now. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 749
Likes: 0
From: Chandler, Arizona
I don't think you'll need a new crank. Worst case is you'll have to take your crank out and have the old bolt eloxed (electrical discharged machined) out and then have the same shop install a helicoil or threaded insert. You'll still need to take the crank out, but it will be a lot cheaper than buying a new crank.
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas
Originally Posted by glennhl
I don't think you'll need a new crank. Worst case is you'll have to take your crank out and have the old bolt eloxed (electrical discharged machined) out and then have the same shop install a helicoil or threaded insert. You'll still need to take the crank out, but it will be a lot cheaper than buying a new crank.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 337
Likes: 0
From: houston
the same thing happend to my bud he has 454 he broke the bolt trying to get out he had to get it tapped it cost him about $200 not to bad. if they do have to pull the motor dont let them screw you when i ran over a chunk of metal while i was driving i put a hole in my oil pan tranny pan and fucked up a bunch of othere thing long story short they had to pull the motor it cost me $500 including the new oil pan and tranny pan
it sux for sure but do like I do with my screw ups. It's gonna take a bit of time to get everything back running...nice time for some upgrades.
Heating the balancer makes it slide on all the way and then you just tighten the bolt. Good luck,,,,,
Heating the balancer makes it slide on all the way and then you just tighten the bolt. Good luck,,,,,
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 749
Likes: 0
From: Chandler, Arizona
You need to ask some of your local auto repair places where to get the bolt eloxed out. I've never had it done, but I've heard it will cost you anything from $25 to $100 per hole depending on the size and depth. Good luck.
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas
Originally Posted by glennhl
You need to ask some of your local auto repair places where to get the bolt eloxed out. I've never had it done, but I've heard it will cost you anything from $25 to $100 per hole depending on the size and depth. Good luck.