My water pump was leaking so I was going to install a new one. When I removed the small bolts that screw into the cover I noticed metal in one of the threads. When I installed the new pump, I had an oil leak. I apparently stripped one when I installed the pump. How can I seal that oil leak? Can I rethread the hole in that thin metal to a larger size? I don't want to replace that cover if I don't have to and really don't want to remove it to put a nut inside. Any other ideas? I did try black silicone and that didn't work.

 

is the oil coming out the hole where the bolt goes? the small bolts shouldn't cause an oil leak around the sides. the small bolts only bolt the water pump to the cover and not to the block. the big bolts go to the block. i just had to change a cover on one that a friend brought me. i think there is enough room in the water pump hole to go to the next size bolt but not sure.