Hi everyone, first time poster here. Im not a very experienced "mechanic" yet but i know my basics around the engine. Anyways ive been working on my 1990 4.0 ranger for a while just replacing with needs replacing, getting some experience before i go to school. I ran into a problem with stripped out bolt holes in the top of the engine where the thermostat housing bolts to. Im hoping someone could give me a some tips on how i could repair this? Possibly with use of the same bolts? Or do i beed to use new bolts?

Thanks

 

Simply put ... Once stripped, you either drill and retap the hole a size larger and drill the mounting holes of the bolt on device larger, or you replace the part that has the stripped holes. I have yet to see any alum or white metal parts take any kind of bonding glue or filler that lasts. Drill and retap is the only way, unless you want to replace the damaged part.
Just my opinion.

 

Thank you for your response. You answered exactly what i wanted to know. I was wondering if a filler in those holes would work. I think ill just drill out and retap then.

 

Your welcome, and good luck.

 

The cheapest, fastest, probably longest-lasting way would be to drill and tap a larger thread in the holes. If you really want to reuse the same bolts, you could try to size a Heli-coil or other threaded insert (see Threaded insert - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ) but I'm not sure if you'll be able to find the right size/thread pitch to reuse the stock bolts in the Heli-coil... good luck and keep us updated.

 

I did not mention Heli-coils or other threaded inserts because of what the material it goes into. Here being white/aluminum casting (ie intake manifold). I have seen inserts break alum castings, pop out (as in Spark plug heli coils) and next removal of the bolt, take the insert right out because of insert bonding with the bolt used to hold said part. I agree in this case as it is only a thermostat, it may hold, but for reasons I just mentioned may cause problems in the future.

Many temp repairs are just that, temporary. It becomes a judgement call on time/money/life expectancy. I myself grew up with the moto "Do it right the first time, so I don't have to pay for it twice".

Good luck, and Be Safe.