Okay, after the harmonic balancer/crank thread catastrophe I had a month ago and a few weeks to cool off and get my enthusiasm back, I'm ready to try and retap the crank threads so I can reinstall the balancer and try, finally, to get the new engine started and Swinger back on the road.

I bought a 3/4" x 16 tap and a tap wrench, and the screwed up threads are definately on the outside. Here's my worry: How do I know if the new threads I cut line up with the existing threads further in? Or does it matter?

The balancer install is the ONLY thing standing in the way of getting the engine started and back on the road. I'm TERRIFIED that I'll screw up the crank for good, and flush large amounts of money I can't afford down the toilet in the process. That's why I stepped away from the car for a while. I'm still discouraged, but I know that the next step could be all or nothing. Any encouraging words, or am I just being a drama queen?

_________________
vm

most /6's didn't have a bolt installed. You can cut the threads just fine, you'll feel if they are cross threading with the old ones. Most "retapping" procedures are easy as the tap tends to follow the odl threads... maybe it cust one or 2 turns out of groove and then it slips back on the original track (less mech effort for the tap... especially at that big thread measures. Worst case scenario, you get a 3/4 drill bit, clean out all the threads and get the next tap and bolt size.

_________________
Juan Ignacio Caino

Please use e-mail button istead of PM'ing. I do log in sometimes but I'll be answering quicker thru e-mail.