I just dealt with this exact problem on the lowest bolt. The hole is self-contained so shavings wouldn't go back into the engine. I used an M7 TimeSert kit and a tap handle to do the job. I had to jack up the engine a few inches to get the power drill lined up straight with the hole. I also taped off the drill bit to ensure the drill only went in as far as the insert needed so as not to risk the integrity of the timing cover. Every worked fine - except I was a bit too cautious. When the insert went in, the tapped hole was just a hair too shallow and the insert ended up sticking out literally by just the flared lip that should have seated in the groove of the counter-bore. So this weekend, I'm going to file it down so it will be flush, but as a repair for the bolt, it's golden now. For future tension of the A/C belt I bought a replacement bolt for the lower side of the bracket so I now have the proper tension bolt and don't have to rely on the idler pulley bracket bolts. ________________________________ From: Stephen Rice <stevedmc@xxxxxxxxx> To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, March 16, 2012 11:29 PM Subject: [DML] Is there an alternate way to tension AC belt Several months ago I took my AC belt out of the car and the other day I decided to put it back it. Well, I'm having trouble getting the thing to tighten because one of the bolts for the bracket will not stay in the engine. The threads are stripped and I really don't want to tap the threads since the metal would end up in my engine. Has anyone ever ran into this, or better yet, is there a better way to tension the belt rather than use the stock design? The picture below shows which bolt is completely loose. The top bolt feels as if its threads are giving way as well. I'm afraid if I tightening it too much its threads will give way as well. http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/s320x320/426916_10150728210865586_624210585_11832095_274403980_n.jpg -- Steve Rice #16510 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address: moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnewsYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: dmcnews-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx dmcnews-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/