I have a 350 SBC, with an edelbrock performer intake mounted to it. The problem I have ran into is when the old distributor was installed, the previous owner broke off the hold down clamp bolt. I've tried having it removed, and cannot seem to find away to have it done.

I was looking for some help, or any ideas on how it would be possible to "fabricate" a new type of hold down, or if there is any other type of clamp, that will hold the distributor in place, without having to be mounted where it normally would be.

My first thought is to use the bolt hole directly to the front of the distributor, but I am sure I would have to do some sort of homemade design of clamp.


Does anyone have any ideas? I would really appreciate it. It's highly unlikely the bolt will come out.

 

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

Probably the best repair would be to remove the intake manifold and take it to a machine shop (not Pep Boys, a shop equipped for engine machining). They can drill and remove the broken off bolt, and if necessary, drill and tap the hole and put in a "helicoil" thread repair. Other types of thread repair inserts are available, but the helicoil is the most common - and will actually make the threads stronger.

 

No other type of clamp I know of; and no practical way to install one some other way.

As cheeep as that intake is, it'd probably cost more to "have" fixed than to replace... http://www.summitracing.com/parts/edl-2101

Shouldn't be too hard to fix yourself though. Once you have it off, file or grind the bolt off flat; center-punch it; and drill through it with about a 1/8" bit. All the way through it, and through the intake casting below it. Then drill back up from underneath with about a ¼" bit. Might actually spin the bolt out even. If not, drill back down from above with a 11/32"; remove the fragments with a dental pick or something; and then Heli-Coil it. Use a generous drop of thread sealer such as the Permatex "Hi-Temp Auto Thread Sealer w Teflon" on the bolt threads.

 

I like to use these on my sbc.

 

I've taken it to a machine shop, and they basically told me there's not much hope for getting it out. They said I could "make" a clamp out of something, and use a different hole on the intake if I wanted to try that. I've tried drilling the bolt myself, but don't get anywhere fast with it, being a grade 8bolt it's pretty tough. not sure why they used a grade 8 in an alum intake...

 

one other thing you might be able to do is have a welder tig a piece of aluminum on the intake and drill and tap a new hole.

 

Well a guy at the machine shop suggested using the hole directly in front of where the distributor sits, and welding a bar/rod onto the clamp so it will reach to the distributor, since there is no "push up" pressure on the distributor. Just looking for as many ideas as I can hoping to figure something out.

 

give me a minute,...ill put a pic up of what im talking about.

 

have them weld something like this on your intake, near the old bolt hole. put the hold down clamp where it normally goes, and mark it. drill & tap it. make sure they get it pretty level before they weld it on.
just an idea. should workout fine.

 

Appreciate all of the help guys. I ended up having someone drill a hole a little closer to the distributor hole, and tap it for me. Working out pretty well at the moment with some thread locker.