Water pump hell: bolt stripped/rounded out

[slacktide_bitog]

On the 3800, there are two sets of bolts: smaller 10mm bolts and bigger 13mm bolts. The bigger ones go thru the water jacket, while the smaller ones do not.

Unfortunately, one of the smaller 10mm bolts won't go on anymore and seems to have rounded out or stripped. And water is leaking from that one bolt that I can't get back on!

Also, the ratchet fell off while I was tightening one of the bolts, and it landed right on the oil pressure sensor and broke it off! It's not leaking any il because the thread part is still intact. It broke off from the thread!

I am using a GMB water pump with a Fel-Pro gasket. Although the water pump included a gasket, it is a cheap paper gasket that everyone complains about, and everybody says not to use it and just get the Fel-Pro.

I didn't put the pulley or the belt back on yet, as GMB says to put some water in the radiator and turn the pump by hand a few times, so that the pump isn't dry at startup. When I filled it, I saw water coming from the one 10mm bolt that stripped!

 

[zzyzzx]

I hate when that happens!

 

[DriveHard]

If the 10mm bolt that is stripped does NOT go through the water jacket, and it is the one leaking...don't you have bigger problems?

 

[slacktide_bitog]

If the 10mm bolt that is stripped does NOT go through the water jacket, and it is the one leaking...don't you have bigger problems?

if it's not on tight enough, not even close, it will leak even if it doesn't go thru the water jacket, right?

 

[zzyzzx]

I am using a GMB water pump with a Fel-Pro gasket. Although the water pump included a gasket, it is a cheap paper gasket that everyone complains about, and everybody says not to use it and just get the Fel-Pro.

The Fel-Pro gasket is probably just a piece of paper as well. They are literally the Dorman of gaskets in that they are available everywhere, just with less quality control issues.

 

[DriveHard]

I think the standard answer would be to chase the threads first, find a new fastener, or use a heli-coil.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

The Fel-Pro gasket is probably just a piece of paper as well. They are literally the Dorman of gaskets in that they are available everywhere, just with less quality control issues.

The Fel-Pro seems to have some kind of wire or something in the gasket. It does look and feel better than paper

I think the standard answer would be to chase the threads first, find a new fastener, or use a heli-coil.

I ordered new bolts from Napa, but I still have to get the old one off

 

[DriveHard]

I ordered new bolts from Napa, but I still have to get the old one off

Get on it with one of these...

Amazon.com

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Get on it with one of these...

Amazon.com

I have one, and it isn't working

 

[DriveHard]

I have one, and it isn't working

Find a friend with more grip strength...

 

[mk378]

Is this a GM/Buick 3800? I have replaced exactly one of those. I don't remember much about the replacement because it was very uneventful. I used the paper gasket that came with the pump.

Water may be coming out at the bolt because it is not holding the gasket tight against the cam cover.

The bolts may be different lengths. Make sure you didn't put a long bolt into a short hole. I assume that now you are trying to get the bolt out.

Also of course you can't fill it with water before putting the tensioner / alternator bracket back on including those infamous elbows.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Is this a GM/Buick 3800?

Water may be coming out at the bolt because it is not holding the gasket tight against the cam cover.

The bolts may be different lengths. Make sure you didn't put a long bolt into a short hole. I assume that now you are trying to get the bolt out.

Yes, it's the GM/Buick 3800. 4th gen Firebird

Yes, they are different lengths. The 13mm bolts are much longer than the 10mm!

If this video is correct, then I did put the bolts in the right place:

 

[The_Eric]

Unless your F body is different than the FWD sleds that Ive worked on, I'm pretty sure that your "13mm" bolts are actually 1/2" headed 5/16 bolts and the "10mm" headed bolts are actually 3/8" headed... Yes, I know lots of other metric bolts are on that car/engine, but for some stupid reason these aren't.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Unless your F body is different than the FWD sleds that Ive worked on, I'm pretty sure that your "13mm" bolts are actually 1/2" headed 5/16 bolts and the "10mm" headed bolts are actually 3/8" headed... Yes, I know lots of other metric bolts are on that car/engine, but for some stupid reason these aren't.

Wow! Thank you so much!

I just used a 3/8 and it came out with no problem! However, the bolt is quite rounded, and I'm still going to replace it!

I only had a problem with one out of 8 bolts! The other 7 had no problem at all! At least I hope I didn't round them out! I don't think I did

 

[cptbarkey]

My sympathies. I agree with the helicoil, I found one reddit post that talks about the same issue and they said to use permatex on the threads which makes sense.

 

[IndyIan]

Find a friend with more grip strength...

Or even use big pliers on the vice grip! They don't seem to mind. Also if you can reach with a dremel, grinding some flats helps. Also some decent whacks with suitably size hammer on the end of the bolt, sometimes helps break the corrosion.

 

[D60]

Unless your F body is different than the FWD sleds that Ive worked on, I'm pretty sure that your "13mm" bolts are actually 1/2" headed 5/16 bolts and the "10mm" headed bolts are actually 3/8" headed... Yes, I know lots of other metric bolts are on that car/engine, but for some stupid reason these aren't.

Funny, I just encountered this on ZJ motor mounts for a 5.2. I'm 99% they're an 11/16" head, which I thought was kinda douchey just 'cause 11/16" ain't that common.

IIRC I tried 17mm and it didn't fit.

I figure a bolt (NOT a nut) with 11/16" head is likely a 7/16‐14 in "heavy hex." I never did actually check the thread pitch though.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

UPDATE

I took all the bolts off, and there was old gasket material I must have missed before! I thought I had gotten it all off, but I didn't! It was leaking from the areas the old gasket was still at.

Also, I highly recommend the Mahle JV-2 gasket scraper.

I'm going to replace all the bolts, not just the rounded one. I ordered a set at Napa. I hope they're ready today.

The bolts seem to come with loctite thread sealer. The old bolts either didn't have it, or it wore off.

 

[D60]

Now where are all the guys who say you no longer need fractional sockets???

 

[JimPghPA]

It's group help like this thread that makes BITOG a great forum.

You guys and gals are great.