pcarfan944

Hey again, and thanks in advance for your on going help. This board is fantastic.

So I finally got the car back into my mechanic today, told them just to replace the t-belt tensioner nut and cambelt stud. They said ok. Just got a call back and was informed that the threads are most likely stripped inside the engine block. After 500 miles of having the lock tight holding the tensioner in place, they were pleased to report that nothing had changed, and suggested that I continue to monitor and drive the car as is because the mechanic believes it will hold up like this until the next belt change. My question is, what would I be looking at to fix a stripped thread in the engine block? Labor? Parts? What exactly would they have to tear apart to get to it? What would you do?

Race Bred

I would helicoil it: remove stud, drill the hole with the bit included in the kit, tap, and insert the helicoil. Should be stronger than the original threads if done right.

89magic98

If you can tension the belts without removing everything, then I would think this procedure doesn't have to wait until the next belt change.

In the worst case scenario, the cooling fans and/or radiator would have to be removed to make room for a drill.

pete944

Just to clarify: Who stripped the stud? If the shop did it during the belt change, I would have them do the repair immediately at their expense.
How can you "monitor" it? It will either hold or it won't. If it lets go it won't give you any advance warning and your valves will be toast.