As some of you know from my alternator post a few days back the case bolts had become loose. While taking the alternator out to tighten up the bolts I noticed that the bracket bolt that screws into the alternator was loose also, I figured that was from the vibration from the other bolts. As I was unplugging the alternator I noticeed that the wires didn't look right going into the plug. It turned out that the wire from the main wiring harness had pulled out of the plug. So to make a long story short...I had to tighten the case bolts, solder the wire back into the plug and it turned out that the alternator mounting hole was stripped so I had to retap and heli core that hole (Before anyone says just put a nut onto the back of the bolt..I am kind of **** about how things look so that would have been a last ditch option) My 15 minute job turned into about a 3 hour job.
If anyone wants some good money saving advice on tapping a hole for a heli core let me know and I will post it.


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Dale Earnhardt was a scholar of the race track that drove with the spirit of a warrior.

My Camaro: http://home.earthlink.net/~singleton052095

 

Great Job!
I have been stranded by the alternator on my Corvette.
The bracketry broke (I was doing alot of 0-100MPH freeway entance burst at that time-cheaper gas!) and the belt went (into the hood made fiberglass dents) the car heted up, etc.
Took me two days to get it home, NOT on a flatbed.
Was lots of fun (so long as it was day light).

Soldering wires is the best.
You made the 100% right call on the helicoil idea.

A larger bolt can many times crack the case (housing, this is not a myurder mystery story!).

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

I hate those jobs... especially when I tell my girlfriend "it'll take 20 minutes". 3 hours later, my car's apart, and I'm suddenly the "a-hole" in a fight! Took me 6 hours to do a starter once; the end of the solenoid cracked and left me with a stud/nut combo holding TIGHT onto the starter wires. I had to use a cut off tool, then fix the wires, and when I finally got it down, I put my "spare" starter up, only to find out it had frozen solid, so I had to take it back down, and get one the next day...

I'll take those heli-coil tips, if you don't mind posting them!


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

I think what's a lil worse is when you get off the phone with a cheerleader and say "I'll be there in 10 minutes" and then trip the Vats System in your car.....3 times.

 

What!! Cheerleader? I thought you were older than that? HAHA

 

ALWAYS date a Cheerleader.
They are the best!
Ex-Cheerleaders are the best, too.
They still wanna jump alot.

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

[This message has been edited by KED85 (edited June 25, 2001).]

 

I hate cheerleaders tho. But they're just so irresistable. College cheerleaders are even worse. Every girl that's ever screwed me over except one has been a cheerleader or majorette (where I come from they look good too...it's the Flag girls that are fat...at least in HS it was that way), and every cheerleader or majorette I've dated has screwed me over.

 

If you have ever priced heli core they want around $30 or more for the kit and only around $7 for just the heli core.

The bolt I was taping is 8 x 1.25 mm so I used a 10 x 1.25 mm tap this gives you the outside diamtere while keeping the inside thread pattern. I had a broken screw driver so I smoothed out the break and used my dremial to make a groove in the end of it to slide onto the "pigtail" of the heli core. This screwed the heli core right in and then a little twist back to break off the "pigtail".
To be extra safe before you drill out your part I used a piece of soft wood to test out my drill bit size and tap.
By doing this I saved myself around $23.

** I agree with cheerleaders and majorettes but I think that dancers may have them beat.

Speaking of women I have a cardboard sunshade that has girls in bikinis on it if anyone is interested in it send me an e-mail.