I fu8ked up my crankshaft thread

[ngoetz]

So I have destroyed the first 1/4" of threads with a gear puller trying to remove the timing gear. What is the best way to go about fixing it. It looks like I need a 13/32 -20 tap to fix it. But cant find that size tap anywhere. Please help. I need to get the truck running this weekend.

 

[JPOutfitters]

pick up a thread file that is grooved and start fixing what you can very slowly using some tool oil. Match the groove width starting back in the good threads and work towards the front......slowly!!!!

Good luck......

 

[Fordum]

They make rethreaders that will go in, expand into the good threads, and then cut their way back out.
Where you would find one, I have no idea on a weekend.

As an absolute last resort, and I do mean last, if there are enough good threads left, you can carefully grind or drill out the bad ones and just use what is left.
If you drill, use a solid stop, like a piece of pipe over the drill bit, or a hand drill. Otherwise a power drill will run all the way in and get them all.

Or bore to the next size and retap to a standard bolt.

But, try to clean up what you have first.

 

[JPOutfitters]

pick up a thread file that is grooved and start fixing what you can very slowly using some tool oil. Match the groove width starting back in the good threads and work towards the front......slowly!!!!

Good luck......

this only works on outside threads......I feel like a FAIL!

Been suffering from a sinus infection for a few days and my brain is slow........

 

[4X4HIGH]

The thread size is 7/16"-20. Go get yourself that size tap and run it into the hole until you're past the bad part then just run it as is. The bolt is plenty long enough and it's not like the harmonic balancer is a slip fit anyways. The 265's, 283's and early 327's weren't even drilled to accept a balancer bolt.

 

[diesel4me]

Thats true,a lot of older engines had no balancer bolt..I've seen only one balancer spin off once,on a Corvette with a 327 a guy was doing a burnout with while leaving the barroom one night!--we saw it fly out from under the car,took awhile to find it in the ditch!...

I've had a few engines that had fubared threads in the crank snout,one was drilled oversize and someone tapped it for a 1/2" x 13 thread bolt...my friend ran into one SBC at his shop that had a lead anchor sheild you'd use on concrete to allow a screw to go into it inside the crank snout!--the kind that expands when you tighten it--rather than fool with it he just left it ,the bolt came out and tightened back up ok,so he just told the owner someone had "been there" before him and fudged up the crank threads...guy hasn't had any troubles with it!..