im trying to take the timing chain off.. got half way there just to get to it.. ran into a snag. stripped the torx bolt on the waterpump.. got it out recently.. is it possible to find the same size bolts except in hex instead of torx

 

actually go to a salvage yard and find an s10 or older 2.8 and pull the bolts out of it thats what i did, a wire brush and they look good as new and have a normal bolt head on them,and are the right size and length

 

On the water pump? Pretty sure the water pumps don't have torx bits, I know my 85 didn't and neither does my 94 3.4, you sure you don't mean the alternator bracket? And easiest thing to do is to just take it to advanced auto tell them you need a new bolt...might not be exact same length but as long as it isn't too long or short it will work.

 

im positive its the waterpump the timing cover has torx bits also. i didnt have to take off my alternator or even go near it for this project..

 

i would go.. but my local salvage yard doesnt let you go out back. theyv had too manythefts so they wont let u go

 

maybe your waterpump was changed along with the bolts previously to avoid the same issue im having?

 

I had the same issue years ago. The bolts on the waterpump in my 89 RS are torx as well. In my case, I just went to the local hardware store to get a new bolt (hex head). Matched up the threads and the length (got the length as close as I could, it might have been just a smidge shorter, I'm not sure, it's been over 5 years). Worked beautifully.

 

Pretty much what I suggested, cept I went to advance auto :P And I honestly don't get why GM uses torx bits on engines at all...for the interior with small screws where things don't become hard to remove its fine... but for engines its a royal pita, like those huge ones on the accessory bracket that I don't have a big enough torx bit for =/ Everything else on engine is a bolt, but then they put those 3 torx bits in -_-