What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

starter bolt missing... arghhh

Dabba

Dabba

1/2 ton status
Joined
Jul 27, 2007
Posts
1,839
Reaction score
2
Location
Long Island, New York
so, i get out of the mall and go to start my truck (cucv) and all i hear is a high pitched whirl. figure the starter gears not engaging the flywheel and hitting it with a hammer wont work. best part is, starters out of the box reman, less than 10 starts. so going back to that place to raise hell. anyway, i went to pull the starter and one of the bolts (the two mains ones) are missing. where can i get one? lmc? its to a 6.2. so mad, not a fun time to be pulling a new starter off the truck
 
Are they universal? I dont want to be cross threading anything into my block. Guess my membership lapsed. Eh
 
Any parts store should be able to give you the bolts you need without issue. They should be pretty universal as well. The diesels could be a different bolt, but the parts store should be able to ensure you get the right one.
 
Starter bolts are special in that they have a knurl on them which keeps the starter centered properly. Just make sure you tell the guys ate the parts store you need STARTER bolts for whatever your application is.
 
hopefully it's not snapped off in the block,,,,right ?

have you pulled it yet ?

chase the threads with a tap if needed, to make sure the threads are good and clean.
 
guys,, any of you know the bolts dimensions? went to an auto parts store and thought i matched it up well. think it was 3/8-16 but when i put her in she didnt catch the threads, so starter still only has one bolt in. went to try to start her anyway just to get her home and she turned over for second and i got a click and whirl sound. guessing it torqued and misaligned itself again. so i need the exact bolt, anyone know the specs?
 
Starter bolts on chevy's are 3/8"-16 and are SPECIAL bolts. Sounds like maybe the threads in the block are stripped or gone completely. Drop the starter and get a flashlight up there to take a look. The threads start about 1/2" up inside the hole.
 
Oh ****.. Sounds like it might be. I think Im going to have my mechanic deal with this. I just was under the truck in like 20 degrees soaked to the bone trying to get the starter up for 45min. Which i was successful in, only to find the bolt didnt fit.

Whats special about them? Is it possible the bolt i got from the autoshop wouldnt have worked? What would have to be done if the threads were stripped?

Last time i checked under the truck i had both bolts heh. the starter was slowly dying and finally kicked it, i had my mechanic throw it in and a week later this happens. Looks like he forgot to put the bolt in or stripped it and hoped i wouldnt notice.

If its stripped, think i have any sort of case against him?
 
Yay resubbed. What say ye, should i just talk to my mechanic first and try to get him to fix his mess or should i just take the hit and try to deal with it myself? If it is stripped im gonna need a proffesional to deal with that, i dont even know what theyd do
 
is the brace still there? they need to have those on them.it goes from the end of the starter to the block.
 
I picked the bolts up at the dealer, they were cheap. Getting broken bolts out of the block sux but not impossible, mine came out with a pick. If the bolt holes are stripped either you or your mechanic could helicoil them and use the stock bolts.

I was thru all of that when my starter brace rotted off, the bolts broke and cracked the neck of the starter.... had to get new bolts and a brace when i put the new starter on.
also i had to change the flywheel since mine was pretty hacked up.
 
If you paid someone to replace the starter a week ago and now you're missing a bolt i would take it back and have them take care of "their" problem.
 
Define Helicoil?

And yeah i think ill take it back. Im a little woried about the stripped threads but yeah i also thought about the flywheel and i hope its not chewed up. I somehow think itll be harder to get them to correct that mistake than just stripped threads.

Man, i really dont like others working on my truck, but whenever something happens its in a situation in which it would be very very uncomfortable to do it. You would think such a professional can do what a simpleton like me can do.. bah
 
GM diesel starter bolts are metric and unique to that block, buy them at your GM dealer. Ain't worth buying them somewhere else. :crazy:

Second, when you (or your mechanic) installs them, use a torque wrench and set them properly (45 ft. pounds).

Finally, make sure the brace is on the other end of the starter, bolted to the block and tightened up.

6.2's and 6.5's are famous for this problem, the shortcuts simply are NOT worth the hassle as you are learning the hard way.

Also, I would NOT use a tap on those holes. You don't want to weaken those threads. Use a thread CHASER or don't bother.

I've extracted I think 14 starter bolts from GM blocks now, the first two on my truck. After the second I took the time to make it right. It's a pain in the ass. :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom