Topic: Stripped Screw Hole: Any Ideas?

[SOHC4ever]

I'm rebuilding the carb on my '68 Mercury. I got it all apart and clean, but upon re-assembly, two of the screws that hold the throttle bodies on to the bowl assembly have stripped the first few threads out of the holes in the bowl assembly. (Weird, too. It was real clean. The threads came right out in a perfect spiral, like the metal just gave. I've never seen that before.)

Without the throttle body on there, they'll thread in to the remaining threads in the hole square, no problem. Of course, that doesn't help me get the carb together, because the screws won't reach that far down through the throttle bodies.

I hear you saying "Get a longer screw," (and don't we all want that!) and I would if I could, but custom fasteners aren't something easy to come by.

I thought of filling the holes with epoxy or locktite or something then just mashing the screw in and hoping it holds, but I figured I'd draw from the collective ingenuity of the forums first.

Any ideas?

[madmtnmotors]

What about the fastener makes it "custom". McMaster-Carr has quite a selection of machine screws:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#screws/=hu5tat

Just need to determine the diameter, pitch, and length required. If the length you need falls in between the available lengths the dremel can make it the right length in short order.

[scrapvalue]

Might be a dumb question, but what makes them custom fastners?
I guess a better way to say it is, what makes them different from other screws?

[Don R]

Sounds like an Autolite/Holley that's a common problem on a holley. It can be helicoiled with a minimum of tools and trouble. You will need a drill, some hand tools and a helicoil kit of the proper size. some racers go ahead and doo all of them. You do still need to know when to stop tightening though. small fasteners like these do not get as tight as a larger bolt.

[SOHC4ever]

Thanks for the replies.
It turns out you guys are absolutely correct. I was able to source 1" machine screws of the same diameter & threading as the stock 3/4" ones, and cinch it on tight.
Looking forward to a long, beautiful summer in my red-hot ragtop - with a perfectly purring 390 and the satisfaction of knowing that the carb is running smooth because of a home rebuild.