Timing belt tensioner boss broke off!

[goldenbb]

I was re-assembling my engine tonight, getting ready to re-install the head and I was installing the timing belt tensioner pulley and the boss broke clean off the block. What are my options, aside from a whole new block? Could this piece be welded back on? Brazed? Is this a common issue or am I just blessed?

[TurboJake]

Snap a picture, I'm not really following what's going on here.

[goldenbb]

Added a photo

[Kevinl]

That sucks mine is stripped out so I had to put a longer bolt in with a nut on the back not sure what to do if it broke clean off

[goldenbb]

the worst part is that I was being really careful about over-tightening bolts and still it happened. It must have been cracked or somehow damaged from age or something the PO did to it. The timing belt was changed one time before...

[TobyB]

It could be brazed back together.

It'll be hard to do in the car-
you need an old- style farm repair place.
One where they're used to seeing things
like that, and have experience sticking them back together.

Good luck!

t

[TurboJake]

That suuuucccckkksss...

You could probably get it welded back on, or even put a big old glob there and drill and tap. Brazing, sure, but will be a PITA, You *might* even be able to get away with not running that partcular bolt (If I'm not mistaken, it's the really long one with the smooth center, a guard so to speak). I wouldnt trust JB weld with that guy though. Too much at stake if it were to break loose while running.

Depending on where in MN you are, finding a new block shouldn't be hard at all. Push comes to shove, I have blocks coming out of my wazoo taking up space in the garage.

[goldenbb]

I'm thinking about fabbing a bracket from a piece of flat steel over from the water pump bolt. I would grind the broken area on the block flat and then install a locking nut on that tensioner bolt from behind the bracket. It should stay fixed in the right place once both of the tensioner bolts are installed. I would just have to relieve some of the front of the water pump in order to get the bracket to fit. I did a little test fit up with the parts and it looks like it could work. I have the old water pump to test it out on.

I'm not opposed to pulling the short block, it's just that I had hoped that would not become necessary. This car has been a bit of a money pit this year and it still needs quite a few other repairs in order to be what I consider 'sorted.'

[goldenbb]

The fix:



I did not change anything on the water pump, just obtained a longer 8mm bolt instead. It's pretty rock-solid, but we'll find out soon if it holds together.