Well....I'm back and still need more help! The basic question is this...
What size bolt do I need to buy to install a stock harmonic balancer? Length, diameter, threads. That's the basic question.

The story behind the question is...I did a complete stage II upgrade and the only part that didn't pass muster was an ASP Underdrive Pulley. This pulley had a complete failure of the bonding material separating from the aluminum core. Due to this ASP failure I decided to return to a stock harmonic balancer. I purchased a new one. I purchased another new crank bolt. I purchased another new set of belts. (The first new set of belts was for the UD configuration.) I had the new harmonic balancer tooled for the additional 3mm offset required for a double rollmaster timing chain. I go to install the new stock HB and the threads don't reach..the bolt is to short! I check jmX's instructions...sure enough he talks about purchasing a longer than stock crank bolt. (Why didn't I need this for the Defective ASP UD Pulley?) jmX says ...specs. for longer crank bolt to be determined. OK...I say UNCLE! This was fun...now it's becoming annoying. I call the GM parts department...I think they think I am from Outer Space! ....Longer crank bolt??!! Huh? I call a friend with a 2000 service manual...it says you need special tool this and special tool that! WOW!

So what is my problem?! Any advice? Oh yeah... I went to every local hardware store and could not match the crank bolt threads with anything they had in house. Like I say...... UNCLE ! Ya know!


[Modified by CapeCodCoupe, 1:04 AM 4/19/2003]

 

I wish I could help you. Is the longer bolt only needed to get the pulley on? If so, I'd tap the pulley with a rubber mallet until a stock bolt will grab. I installed ASP pulley myself. Used the old bolt to tighten pulley on to crank, then used the new bolt to finish.

Good luck, Keith

 

Sorry, I havent been able to find my reciept from the bolt shop.

Here's what you do, open the phone book, find a bolt supply store. Go there with old crank bolt in hand, tell them you need the exact same thing, except 10-20mm longer. Get a big washer too. If they dont have that, get a piece of allthread, and a nut and washer.

Go home, and use the new longer bolt to seat it. Thats it. Any bolt supply store with metric bolts should have it. Autoparts stores aren't going to have it most likely, and certainly a dealership wont have it.

 

Oh, and it cost me around $3. One day I'll head up to the bolt store and get another one so I have the thread pitch and dimensions, but for now this is the only info I can provide.

If you do go to a bolt store and find out, I'd love to know and then I'll update my page. ;)

 

Yuh...sounds simple but no bolt stores in my area just hardware stores and marine supply stores. I've checked the HW stores and one marine store. Someone at the marine store gave me a lead to a marina that does lot's of repairs..after that, I just don't know.

 

i will bet you are really close to catching a tread. Take a 2X4 and whack it on a quarter of an inch and you will be on your way.

 

Hey see5.. here we are again! Whack it with a 2 X 4 ?! Are you serious??

 

TTT ! Looking forward to hearing from all who did there own H & C swap and kept there stock harmonic balancer! Did you find a method without purchasing a longer crank bolt? If not, what were the specs. of the bolt you purchased? Hey ......recoup your purchase price...sell it to me so I can get my HB back on and get my car down from the jackstands!

 

CCC,
Two things:
I greased the inner bore of the balancer and used a ~~ 6" piece of 2X4 placed on the inner ring a gave it a whack to drive it evenly. I am sure you are so close to catching the thread that this will do it. If not submit form 474 and claim a rebate.

 

REALLY...OK...I'll try that tomorrow...ugh....Form 474?! Is this the Tax Dept.?

 

Let me know it worked for me.

 

If you still cant get it on I'll UPS my bolt to you on monday if you need. I'd just ask for shipping+$5 so I can go buy another. I'm pretty po' right now. :cry

 

OK, I'll let you know. This project was going along really well and I was enjoying the challenge. All this extra work due to the failure of the ASP UD pulley! I obviously wouldn't recommend their product.

Lee Cooper, who seems to be the primary person at ASP, says his product has never failed before! We know of at least one other forum member who had the ASP product fail very soon after install. I also realize many say they never had a problem with this item. Although Mr. Cooper says the product is currently undergoing production changes with different techniques being used to eliminate failures! Try to get an ASP UD from one of the forum vendors and you will find they are back ordered! ....go figure.

Oh and Mr. Cooper said he would refund my purchase price after I returned it to him. Well it will be two weeks Monday since the pulley was delivered to him by Fed Ex. Guess what no refund of my $235 yet!

 

Standard bolt is - M16x2.0x103 - if nothing else, buy some threaded rod and nut from a hardware store or McMaster Carr. Good luck!

 

NO LUCK AT ALL! Hrdware stores including home depot & loew's no 16 mm bolts except short ones.

I went to Auto Zone this morning and they have a harmonic balancer installation tool. The kit contains the right adaptor (16mm) but there is a problem with it or with me. When I put the jack bolt over the center bolt the center bolt (with the correct adaptor screwed into the end of it) does not stick out long enough to grab the threads. Without the jack bolt I can grab the crank threads no problem. I almost had a big panic attack when this adaptor came unscrewed from the center bolt while it was in the crank threads!!!!!! Immediately I had visions of the car on a flat bed off to some specialty place to get this stuck adaptor out of my crank threads!

I'm definitely not having good luck with UD pulleys and HB's. I think I'll just order a 16 mm bolt with 2.0 ? threads and oh yeah how long? LOnger than 103 (stock as you indicate) oh yeah jmX said 10 - 20 mm longer.

Hey jmX ! Could you measure the length of that bolt you have been using for this purpose for me? Thanks


[Modified by CapeCodCoupe, 11:02 AM 4/19/2003]

 

i just got done putting my HB on about an hour ago,,,,,i keyed mine a while back because of the supercharger,,,,,all i did was put a small amount of lube on the crankshaft and balancer, lined up my keys and tapped it on with a 2X4,,,,,put the 2X4 in the middle of the HB and get a hammer and hit away,,,,,,it went on about 60% i guess pretty easily,,,,,then i used the stock bolt and a 1/2 inch air impact and put it on the rest of the way,,,,,then torqued to 240 ft lbs.,,,,,,,as tight as it went on when using the impact i dont think a very small amount of lube will hurt anything


[Modified by Av8ter, 11:25 AM 4/19/2003]

 

Av8ter, how are ya. You gave me good advice on my FLP install.

I tried this routine first thing this morning. I put a small piece of wood into the pulley's front cavity. I hit the wood first with a rubber hammer then a carpenter's hammer. Am I not just asking for trouble doing this? How could you describe how much force is safe? Yes I greased the shaft and interior of pulley. It is partly on there now. Looks square and is tight (not wobbly). I am simply afraid to hit it any harder!

 

CCC,
You need to hit it hard with a bigger hammer. You are just doing the same thing as the bolt once you get it started. Make sure you have several threads engaged before you start cranking on the bolt lest you strip it. It takes alot of force to seat that pulley as it is a press fit.
Go out and hit it!

 

hi there CapeCod

youre not going to damage that HB,,,,,,,so dont be afraid to hit it,,,,,,and like See5 mentioned, make sure you have plenty of threads engaged so you wont strip out the bolt or crank,,,,,,,,as tight as the clearance is between the crank and HB, once its somewhat started, it will be squarely engaged from that point on,,,,,,,,it wont go on cocked


[Modified by Av8ter, 12:22 PM 4/19/2003]

 

OK..I'll give it another go around. I'll be sure to post if I get this bad boy on there. As always...thanks to all.