QuickTime bell starter bolt holes

[Bolted to Floor]

Getting things prepped to shoehorn the engine into the car next weekend.
I found the starter bolt holes are tapped to a 3/8-16 thread. Is that common? Starter bolts are 5/16. Is there a helicoil to get down to the 5/16 size? I not very well versed in machinist type stuff. 

[BattlestarGalactic]

Not sure why QT put 3/8" bolts in there?   I personally would not like the use of helicoils in this application.  Too much chance for coming loose, falling out, etc in an open hole that is so short(thin wall of bellhousing).

Any other thread insert would require enlarging the hole a size or two.

[jayb]

You could try the normal 5/16" bolts with a nut on the other side, I've had to do that once or twice when the threads stripped.  But my Quicktime bell has the correct 5/16-18 threads, so I'm guessing they screwed up on yours...

[Bolted to Floor]

Thanks for the response guys.

Larry, after Googling the helicoils, I see what you mean about the thin area and how deep it should be installed and how much to counter sink. With less than a 1/4" of material between a hole and the edge of the bell, I would say the thread serts are out too.

Looks like Jays suggestion for a win. It beats my first thought of drilling the starter out for 3/8 bolts. That could create a different problem down the road.

[Heo]

Bolt it together with nuts and tack the nuts to the belhousing

[BattlestarGalactic]

You could also get the small hex headed 3/8" bolts, that might fit better and easier to get a wrench on? 

Or tack the 5/16" nut on the back side of the bellhousing(before you install the bellhousing)and use longer bolts.

[HTM101]

I purchased a QT new in box in 2014.  While reading this thread, I thought I remembered installing ARP 3/8-16 bolts in the bellhousing for the starter.  In that the car is up on the lift, I removed one this morning.  It is 3/8-16.

I use a Tilton starter which accepts the 3/8" bolts, so it was a good fit.

[Bolted to Floor]

I bought all this stuff from Modern Driveline three and a half years ago. So, I called them to say "Hey this is what's happening" and to my surprise, Jeff was willing to listen. He wants to make sure the parts are manufactured right. And I agree, for the cost of this thing, it should have all the holes sized as Ford did. Gave him the invoice number so he could see what was purchased. He was going to look at one on the shelf and talk with Bruce and get back with me, which was not long at all. The bell on the shelf has 3/8 holes for the starter too. Bruce thought they should be 3/8 also.

I asked for an email address so I could do some digging to show it should be 5/16. I took pictures of my factory bell this evening and rounded up some information from some of the manuals on CD that I've bought and will send it in the morning. We will see where it goes. Just to be clear, I'm not blasting Modern Driveline. I have been rather pleased with their customer service. QuickTime failed somewhere along the way when they started tapping the wrong size holes for the starter. I failed to throughly inspect it when I received it in December 2013. Maybe QuickTime will get straightened out as to what size hole is correct.

Turns out ARP was the only company I could find that had a bolt size, 3/8, listed in the information for 390 starter bolt kit!!

Jeff tells that QuickTime was bought out by Holley. Did anyone else know that?? Not sure when it happened.

I pick the steering column and other interior pieces up from the paint shop on Wednesday. Once the column is in the car, I will proceed with violating the engine bay on Saturday with a motor and tranny. 

[Bolted to Floor]

I was trying to get a post together to update on the car when I thought this thing with the starter bolts again.

It was sometime in August when I heard back from Jeff with Modern Driveline. Bruce was able to have a conversation with Ross that started QuickTime who went back to check the drawings. Sure enough, it’s supposed to be 5/16”. Ross had no idea when the change was made or how many had been produced with the wrong size holes. No one had ever brought it to their attention. Jeff and I chalked it up to the guys working on an engine that had been out of production for 40 years was used to making things work!!

I was told the next batch, whenever it’s run, will have the correct size starter bolt threads.

I wound up used some 3/8” x 1-1/4” button head allens and turned down about 3/4” to a 5/16-18 thread count. Then hit them with lock tight and screwed in them place from the back. I now have starter studs.

[gdaddy01]

may be a problem with headers in place getting the starter off in the car , or not . I would put the header on , with it out of the car and see if the starter will come off with the studs in place . if it will , you are golden ,a nice fix . I like it .

[Bolted to Floor]

Thanks gdaddy.

I had to pull the starter to get the header in the car after we stabbed the motor. The starter went back in rather easy with the center link and idler arm dropped from the tie rods.