So, I have a situation. Crawling under the engine to remove block coolant drain plugs, and noticed on driver side of block, that a bolt that attaches Power Steering bracket to engine is missing. I thought it would take a 3/8” NC cap screw, but when I get to the place where it should tighten up and pull the bracket to the engine, I hear a click and no more tightening! I tried a 7/16” but that seems too big. Is this a weird bolt or is it as I suspect, and time for a helicoil, or a drill and tap for 7/16” bolt?

The hole in the cast iron block is at least an inch deep. Strange that it would be wobbled out like that? Welding rod shows where the bolt is missing.

 

If I remember correctly on the 307 in my Wife's Riviera it is a 7/16 bolt and there might be a spacer that goes in between the bracket and the block too. I have a block on the engine stand at the shop I can check for sure in the morning.

What car is it in ? Might make a difference as to the spacer or not.

 

Bill, you probably have this figured out! Car is a 72 Cutlass. The bracket appears to be maybe 3/8” away from the boss on the block. I just thought the bracket was maybe sprung? A 7/16 will definitely go through the bracket easily, but it didn’t seem to engage? Perhaps the alignment is just bad enough that it wouldn’t fit.

Much appreciated if you are able to verify on an engine. Not looking like a helicoil or similar is something I would want to do with an engine in the car.

Thanks!

 

that hole is a 7/16 coarse thread. Once you loosen the pump it will be easier to start the bolt. It also gets a spacer between the bracket and the block…

https://www.ebay.com/itm/204864054569

 

Here is a diagram for a 68. I think the bracket is different but it shows the bolt as 7/16"
http://www.gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=91197

I think Joe P had posted some diagrams somewhere that show all of the different configurations. I have a feeling yours will need the spacer. You might have to loosen the other bolts up to get it to move far enough to get the bolt started.

 

I have put a thick grade 8 washer (or custom “stack”) in that spot on a few cars, fastened by appropriate length 7/16 bolt. Might want to chase those threads just in case, but they are likely ok. Sometimes it’s helpful to have the pump mounting bolts loose and catch this particular bolt by a few thread before tightening things up.

 

Thanks to all that replied on this! Way better outcome than I was expecting. Don’t know if I will get back to that spot tomorrow or not, but I’ll let you all know how it turns out. Thanks for the eBay link too.

 

Here is the spacer diagram.

 

So..I got back to this problem today. For now, bought a 7/16” bolt at Ace. Using the spacer dimensions i miked a half inch nut and found that it was within a few thousandths of being a perfect match, at least till I get the real thing. Bottle jacked the power steering bracket up just a whisker, till a 7/16” tap lined up, and then chased the threads. Lots of mostly rust. Blew out the hole and slipped in the “spacer”. It was a good fit. I did ream the threads out a little on the 1/2” nut so the 7/16 was free and clear. Bolt went in well, tightened up well.

Thanks for the group response. It sure seemed like a stripped female thread when I first looked at it.

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Gotta love an easy fix.