Well through my dilemma with the cooling problems I've had the tstat out and new one in etc. One of the bolts that held it on definitly didn't belong so I've been as gentle as possilble with it but it finally gave up the ghost and stripped due to the wrong bolt being in there. Right now the bolt isn't quite just spinning in there, but by feel I can say that if I snug it enough to not leak, it's going to tear what's left of the threads out.How can I fix this? P.S. I hate previous owners.....

 

Tap and dye? I have enough cash to buy a set but I don't know what bolt to move up to and have never used a set. Any suggestions?

 

Find a mechanically-inclined friend to help you if you're worried about it. Fortunately, it's soft aluminum so it will be easy to fix. Find a bolt that is bigger than the hole currently in there and just tap it with a tap that has the same diameter/thread pitch. You might even have to widen the hole in your T-stat housing.

Or if you wanted to be really slick you could helicoil it

 

Cool, I'm headed to the parts store, it willl be leaking a little bit, but it's only a few miles away......

 

looks like I got beat

You shouldn't have to buy a set, just the one you need.

You will need a bottom tap if it's a blind hole, they're flat on the bottom, not pointed.

Do not use any lubricant if tapping into aluminum unless of course there are now lubricants available for aluminum (it's been a long time since I'be worked in a machine shop).

As far as the size it will be the 1 that corresponds with the drill bit that will just clean up the hole you've got.

 

Same thing happened to me. I found a used intake manifold on ebay for about $20.

Tap and dye might be nice for future uses too though.

 

just got back, made it without getting all that warm I got just the tap I need and two bolts so atleast I'll be sealed up again. I hate cooling issues. I'd rather do a timing chain than deal with this crap.

 

Heli-coil may work also. Goodluck.

 

x2 on the heli-coil

 

I think I'm going to kill the guy that owned this truck before me.

 

yep. the PO's can really cost you down the road.