AmericanSavage Posted January 7, 2023 Author Share Posted January 7, 2023 Yes, it is. Ahh, OK, my bad. I thought it was one of these two bottom bolts which look to be the ones that thread into the timing cover and not the block. https://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/file/n129569/bra-1648_jr_xl.jpg I am thinking based on my edit to that response, that you might be correct. Stand by, I have now isolated it between ALL the gaskets, and a shot of my front cover—I think I was wrong in my insistence it goes into the block….stand by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 Here is a 400 I found on the web. You might be able to guestimate where the bolt lives. To me it looks like it goes through the timing cover and into the block. https://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/file/n129536/FOR-LONG-6.jpg Cover the front of your engine with saran wrap before you start drilling. Additionally a magnet taped to the outside of a plastic bag can catch all the metal shavings. This matches with my brief look at the cover, and noticing there is a block behind that hole in particular. GREAT idea on saran wrap and magnets! Ordered the 5/16-18 heli coil today. Some folks have suggested maybe there is a larger bolt in that one spot only. I am inclined to say, not in my case. Here is Gary’s Diagrams—note the 351C/M 400, and 460) are the same. The part list notes that they are all 5/16-18 AS REQUIRED. Which means they are all the same size for those two engines: https://www.garysgaragemahal.com/water-pump-s--illustrations.html I add: I ran the tap through a couple of other holes, and it went smoothly, and had the same fit as the hole I am having tropuble with. Does the heli-coil come with the needed tap? It is a special tap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanSavage Posted January 7, 2023 Author Share Posted January 7, 2023 Yes, it is. Ahh, OK, my bad. I thought it was one of these two bottom bolts which look to be the ones that thread into the timing cover and not the block. https://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/file/n129569/bra-1648_jr_xl.jpg I am thinking based on my edit to that response, that you might be correct. Stand by, I have now isolated it between ALL the gaskets, and a shot of my front cover—I think I was wrong in my insistence it goes into the block….stand by. OK, I think YOU all are right—Based on location it HAS to be plate only? And not screw into the block. The upper bolt definitely goes into the block. I double checked with my pics I took, and with the pump, + the TWO gaskets I have on hand. I want to thank everyone for making me better at this—all of you are immense help. I will confirm all this with pics and hand out awards to those who got it right. See pics below: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanSavage Posted January 7, 2023 Author Share Posted January 7, 2023 Does the heli-coil come with the needed tap? It is a special tap. I have a kit, and it comes with a tap, several coils, and a tool to install and break the piece at the end (inside). Some come with a drill to boot, but I think the one I have does not have the bit with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanSavage Posted January 7, 2023 Author Share Posted January 7, 2023 Yes, it is. Ahh, OK, my bad. I thought it was one of these two bottom bolts which look to be the ones that thread into the timing cover and not the block. https://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/file/n129569/bra-1648_jr_xl.jpg I am thinking based on my edit to that response, that you might be correct. Stand by, I have now isolated it between ALL the gaskets, and a shot of my front cover—I think I was wrong in my insistence it goes into the block….stand by. Sorry for all the posts—I found a rather nice pic of a 351m/c This really helped me, and Rembrant and ArdWrknTrk and mat in tn (also 85lebaront2). All you had it right. I think I was off one hole. Thank you all for making me check twice, 3 times. Here is the pic: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat in tn Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 Sorry for all the posts—I found a rather nice pic of a 351m/c This really helped me, and Rembrant and ArdWrknTrk and mat in tn (also 85lebaront2). All you had it right. I think I was off one hole. Thank you all for making me check twice, 3 times. Here is the pic: after seeing the picture of the cover from pro comp. I think i would order that if i was to ever need my cover off again. that seems like a problem solver redesign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85lebaront2 Posted January 8, 2023 Share Posted January 8, 2023 Sorry for all the posts—I found a rather nice pic of a 351m/c This really helped me, and Rembrant and ArdWrknTrk and mat in tn (also 85lebaront2). All you had it right. I think I was off one hole. Thank you all for making me check twice, 3 times. Here is the pic: None of us wanted you to mess things up. Now you see how the threads are made in the 335 series timing covers. I think Ford stole the idea from Oldsmobile, complete with the vertical fuel pump bolt orientation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanSavage Posted January 8, 2023 Author Share Posted January 8, 2023 after seeing the picture of the cover from pro comp. I think i would order that if i was to ever need my cover off again. that seems like a problem solver redesign. read the few reviews of the Pro Comp. Not a great fit. The Summit one is laser cut. I would like to see more reviews though. I will decide what to do after I get this cover off. I may replace it, and if I do, I will likely go with the more expensive Summit cover. Great reviews on that and near perfection on the fit to OEM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat in tn Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 after seeing the picture of the cover from pro comp. I think i would order that if i was to ever need my cover off again. that seems like a problem solver redesign. read the few reviews of the Pro Comp. Not a great fit. The Summit one is laser cut. I would like to see more reviews though. I will decide what to do after I get this cover off. I may replace it, and if I do, I will likely go with the more expensive Summit cover. Great reviews on that and near perfection on the fit to OEM. if that is a concern then I will just weld flange nuts to the back of the oe cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanSavage Posted January 9, 2023 Author Share Posted January 9, 2023 if that is a concern then I will just weld flange nuts to the back of the oe cover. This is definitely one thing I am going to look into doing. Based on all the great advice here, I cannot see a way other than grinding down the braze-on bolt, and re-welding a new nut in its place. However, there is some, shall we say, pitting on the cover. I may just replace it. I hope to know more this week when I remove it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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