53 ford Mainline, I6 3 speed manual Ok, so I changed my starter, ( After finding that I have a automatic starter on my 3 speed manual , Kooky huh ) Anyways, correct starter on her, started snuggin up the bolts, tightened the bottom, then the top, and the top screw broke at the bellhousing. I wasn't even torqueing it. Anyways, got out the drill, drill a starter hole, got my extracting bit, and started turning. At that time one cluster **** went to another, I hit my elbow on the light I had in the engine bay, VERY HOT, and completely boogered up the top starter mounting hole in the bellhousing. Any ideas other than yanking the ****** and changing the bellhousing? Ive put 2 ******s in her in the past, so no biggie, but if I can do this without the extra labor I'd like to. For now 1 bolt through the starter, and one in the starter ear.....and a ratchet strap around the starter attached to the intake. Its driveable, and Its not going anywhwere so take your time thinkin.
As I see it...if I understand the term "completely boogered up" correctly...you've got two choices: Pull it now...or pull it later. Hopefully you'll be able to get the broken bolt out without the necessity of drilling the old threads out and installing a helicoil. If you do need a helicoil, be sure to use a guide plate as a drill guide to locate the larger hole correctly. If the hole walks off even slightly the new bolt will bind in the threads and either change the orientation of the starter to the flywheel, or even worse, break again. The easiest way out of this would be, as you suggested, to change the bellhousing for an undamaged one. And, if you haven't already, I'd suggest that you locate original Ford factory starter bolts. The one that broke was almost certainly a hardware store Grade 5 that somebody used in place of the good ones that came with the motor. Just ask me how I know this... Eric
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