70SunFun
Well-Known Member
In my 1970 Challenger 383 four-speed the two starter bolt holes in the aluminum bell housing are stripped. Does anyone know how to fix this issue? Thanks.
Thank you.Ummm, Heli-Coil...
Thanks, I may try that. You're right that a helicoil is hard to do in place. I was trying to avoid removing the bell housing to do the helicoil repair.I used a pair of longer allen head cap screws once. A heli-coil is hard to do in place.
Excellent info. The current bolts are about 1-1/2 inches long so I don't know if a 1-5/8 or 1-3/4 length will work. Thanks again.Usually they strip because some one used a short bolt.
Take a good look at the back of the bolt hole, see if there's any threads left. If there is, find a bolt long enough to go through completely, and carefully tighten up
Thanks. I already dropped the car back down on the garage floor and can't see the bolt holes from the top side. I'll have to jack it up again to look underneath to see if the holes go through completely. I'm hoping they do.Usually they strip because some one used a short bolt.
Take a good look at the back of the bolt hole, see if there's any threads left. If there is, find a bolt long enough to go through completely, and carefully tighten up
Yes, thanks. If the holes go all the way through, I will do your suggestion. Hoping to avoid taking out the housing but I might have to.To be clear I threaded the cap screw through what was left of the thread and put a nut on it from the other side. I don't think there was room for a washer.
Worked good.
I later had the housing out and put it in a mill and did heli-coils.
Cool; I'm hoping! Thanks again.Pretty sure they all do
Thank you.If they are through holes, as above, tap em deeper and use a longer bolt... or a couple studs.
Re weld holes then tap helicoil will failIn my 1970 Challenger 383 four-speed the two starter bolt holes in the aluminum bell housing are stripped. Does anyone know how to fix this issue? Thanks.
Thank you.Re weld holes then tap helicoil will fail
I retapped the holes which go all of the way through, used longer bolts but had to use slightly smaller diameter ones due to very limited bolt head clearance due to the rounded profile of the bell housing being very close to the holes. Also used washers, and lock washers. Thank you all for the informative information. It's fixed (for now, lol!)!Thank you.
Thank you.The factory used 2 different sized fasteners. One was a bolt , the other a stud and nut. Most problems are with non factory bolts used. Get the right stuff.
Look in your Factory Service Manual, it will tell you exactly what belongs there.
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