What is the fix for this? (photo)

[VaSteve]

In taking off the fan shroud on the left (driver's) side, I snapped off two of the bolts. After drilling them out and using one of those reversing bits, I was able to get all of the bolt out. It appears that I damaged the threads. What is the fix for this? Can I just run a tap and die set over it to rethread the hole and use the same size bolt? These bolts only hold down the shroud so it's not really carrying a load or any vital parts (like the ones that hold on the throttle linkage).

I am not completely disassembling the engine so I'm avoiding taking the heads off and to the machine show for this alone.

Thanks!


(Sorry the photo kinda sucks)

[addictionMS]

I would think you are ok, I have a few of those bolts missing and I have not suffered any, if in doubt, you can always timesert it, but I think that would be overkill....

Jim

[Jay Auskin]

As you said, you're just holding the shroud down. Just do as you are thinking (or as Bietendorf suggested to take it a step further), and check it periodically. This isn't a critical fastener. You should be fine...just check it after a few runs.

[viejopatron]

When I buggered some M10 threads, I got a repair kit from McMaster-Carr. The kit includes a drill bit, tap, insert installer and inserts. Go online to the M-C site and enter "Thread repair" in the search field.

http://www.mcmaster.com/

[VaSteve]

Just to wrap up. I got lucky, I was able to chase the threads with a tap kit. There were enough threads left at the bottom to hold in the bolt. Thankfully, it was only a shroud bolt.