#@$%#@$#@$#@$#@$#@$ Front Cover

[BrandonB]

So I took advantage of a nice warm sunny day this evening to go out and finish putting my truck back together. Everything coming together nicely.. SNAP.

The guide wheel on the front cover, was tightening it down not even to the tightness to torque yet and it snapped off the aluminum offshoot it was connected to......

Now it looks like I get to buy a new front cover and take everything BACK off.

 

[bedrck46]

Are you sure it was a Sunny day or do you have a dark cloud over your head I bet you just love doing things twice

 

[BrandonB]

Well i'm glad it broke now vs later when I was driving and had even more stuff put back on.. ..

Now I get to find a timing cover somewhere.. Checking dealer and junk yard tomorrow I guess.

 

[toms89]

Maybe you are much stronger than you think !?

 

[BrandonB]

Entirelly possible, but it wasn't even to the point of feeling tight. :/ I saw someone on the mustang forum had the same problem under almost the same circumstances and was able to "fix" it by just getting a longer bolt and making use of extra threads. I suppose I could do that - there is still about a 1/4" of threads in the front cover. I could get a slightly longer bolt and some jb weld and "fix" it if I have to. But at this point I just have to take the valve covers, ps pump and crank pulley back off to get the cover off so I might as well replace it - if I can find one.. Alternatively I could have my dad weld it but I don't know how well that would hold either.

 

[toms89]

Entirelly possible, but it wasn't even to the point of feeling tight. :/ I saw someone on the mustang forum had the same problem under almost the same circumstances and was able to "fix" it by just getting a longer bolt and making use of extra threads. I suppose I could do that - there is still about a 1/4" of threads in the front cover. I could get a slightly longer bolt and some jb weld and "fix" it if I have to. But at this point I just have to take the valve covers, ps pump and crank pulley back off to get the cover off so I might as well replace it - if I can find one.. Alternatively I could have my dad weld it but I don't know how well that would hold either.

Agreed.

Sorry about your misfortune! Really sucks when things like that happens. Kind of screws your day.

 

[IMINYOURCHAIR]

It could've been worse.. I broke a bolt off in a water pump gasket fix on my buick lesabre. the engine was to be removed to get proper access to drill the bolt out. I just bodged it together as it was probably the 50,00th thing coolant related to break with that car. tragedy though

 

[BrandonB]

I'm really just tired of spending money on the thing to be honest. I knew it was a gamble when I bought it. It just sucks when your almost done and have to take so many steps back. It doesn't sound like i'm alone either - looking around at other forums it seems like that is a commonly broken part. Wish someone would make some sort of aftermarket idler that shares the same 3 bolts as the tensioner or something.

 

[toms89]

I'm really just tired of spending money on the thing to be honest. I knew it was a gamble when I bought it. It just sucks when your almost done and have to take so many steps back. It doesn't sound like i'm alone either - looking around at other forums it seems like that is a commonly broken part. Wish someone would make some sort of aftermarket idler that shares the same 3 bolts as the tensioner or something.

Metal fatigue or bad castings ??

Might be worth tapping it out the rest of the way and using longer bolt if they are not broken?? But then that might break it if its ready to go. Catch 22...

 

[vigman]

Sorry man… that Does suck

 

[BrandonB]

I think I might have found a front cover online but somewhat close for $40 at a online junk yard. Depending on availability and condition I might be able to finish this thing up this week after all!

 

[BrandonB]

Found a front cover for $40 + $25 shipping from Rogers, Arkansas. Should have it here tomorrow or Friday!

 

[BrandonB]

New cover came in today from the online junk yard - ended up being off a 98 F-150. Yanked everything back off and put the new cover on and now i'm back to moving forward. Only took me 2 hours to pull off the stuff I put back on and replace the front cover. Hopefully will get it put all back together and running tomorrow!

 

[bedrck46]

hopefully you don't have to take it apart again

 

[BrandonB]

If that happens i'll be beyond pissed. This vehicle so far has plagued me. The last several vehicles i've had that i've tore into the engine on i've never had these kind of problems.

 

[bedrck46]

the first thing that goes when you get older is the mind but I thought you liked a scavenger hiunt

 

[BrandonB]

Finding missing pieces and what bolt goes where is a scavenger hunt, breaking things isn't.

Speaking of broken things. Noticed when I went to put the harmonic balancer on the end of the crank bolt is jacked up and missing a few threads. Looks like i'm going junk yarding' tomorrow.

 

[bedrck46]

Run a tap into the hole first to clean up the threads then spray it out with solvent to get any metal out. Use some form of lube on the new bolt You may also want to run a die over the new bolt.

But I kind of figure you already know this

 

[BrandonB]

Yeah I picked up a tap to run through it - couldn't find a 12mm 1.50 anywhere to buy individually so I just did the autozone loan-a-tool set. The only thing I can't seem to find is the bolt... No dealers in the area had it and the junk yard I stopped by didn't either. So I get to order one from the dealer on Monday.