Crank Bolt stuck in Crank - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

kingp8 · 04-13-2021, 03:45 PM

Hey everyone, this is my first post here so hopefully I am posting in the right place. I have a 2010 camaro ss M6. I did a cam swap this weekend. Everything was running well on the car but the harmonic balancer is about a 16th of an inch out from all the other pulleys. This is causing the serpentine belt to squeal. I went to pull the crank bolt (which I swapped to an ARP) to see if I could press the balancer in more. But, the crank bolt will turn out a little bit and stop. Almost as of the threads have mushroomed in the crank so it won't come out. I torqued the crank bolt to 235 per ARPs instructions. Has anyone ran into this issue? If so any solutions. Thanks for the help everyone.

gunchamp · 04-13-2021, 03:53 PM

Are you using an impact gun? You really dont want to use a hand ratchet on that bolt. Impact it off and torque wrench it back in place. Little scary where your at now. Hopefully it doesnt pull the threads

gunchamp · 04-13-2021, 03:54 PM

oh and welcome to the forum. Great wealth of knowledge here and a great group of folks who love to help

kingp8 · 04-13-2021, 04:20 PM

I am going to try an impact tonight. I was a little nervous to do so because of the current situation. Thanks for the reply and welcome. I'll let you know how it goes

1JEWLDSSRS · 04-13-2021, 04:48 PM

When you do the impact, put something behind the balancer like a pry bar to apply some light outward pressure on the unit as this will help keep outward pressure on the bolt and hopefully help get it past the point where the threads are messed up.

kingp8 · 04-13-2021, 04:50 PM

That is a good idea, I will definitely give that a shot.

PaulsSS · 04-13-2021, 04:52 PM

I;'ve had a few similar experiences with the arp crank bolt. I only use the factory bolt now.

kingp8 · 04-13-2021, 05:03 PM

Paul, did you ever figure out what happened with the crank bolt after getting it out. I will most likely be using factory bolt from now on as well.

1JEWLDSSRS · 04-13-2021, 05:11 PM

Yea, when we did mine we used the GM Performance crank bolt.

1JEWLDSSRS · 04-13-2021, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingp8

That is a good idea, I will definitely give that a shot.

Yep, it works on other bolts and screws, should work here as well. Good luck.

kingp8 · 04-13-2021, 07:08 PM

Hey guys, got the bolt out thankfully. Just the threads on the end of the bolt were chewed up. I'm still curious on what caused this though haha. Thanks for all of the help!

Ashen 6.2 · 04-13-2021, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingp8

Hey guys, got the bolt out thankfully. Just the threads on the end of the bolt were chewed up. I'm still curious on what caused this though haha. Thanks for all of the help!

Glad you got that out! I ordered the ARP with my stuff and am thinking of just ordering the GM one now.

kingp8 · 04-13-2021, 07:37 PM

Thanks man, such a relief to have it out! I am not sure what happened, it might just be an odd occurrence. I guess this is the first time I have run into this so I am not sure the correct way to advise you. Good luck on the install!

Rock-It Man · 04-13-2021, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingp8

Hey everyone, this is my first post here so hopefully I am posting in the right place. I have a 2010 camaro ss M6. I did a cam swap this weekend. Everything was running well on the car but the harmonic balancer is about a 16th of an inch out from all the other pulleys. This is causing the serpentine belt to squeal. I went to pull the crank bolt (which I swapped to an ARP) to see if I could press the balancer in more. But, the crank bolt will turn out a little bit and stop. Almost as of the threads have mushroomed in the crank so it won't come out. I torqued the crank bolt to 235 per ARPs instructions. Has anyone ran into this issue? If so any solutions. Thanks for the help everyone.

Hopefully we're talking 235 in.lbs, not 235 ft.lbs.

04-13-2021, 03:45 PM	#1
kingp8 Drives: Chevrolet Camaro SS Join Date: May 2019 Location: United States Posts: 6	Crank Bolt stuck in Crank Hey everyone, this is my first post here so hopefully I am posting in the right place. I have a 2010 camaro ss M6. I did a cam swap this weekend. Everything was running well on the car but the harmonic balancer is about a 16th of an inch out from all the other pulleys. This is causing the serpentine belt to squeal. I went to pull the crank bolt (which I swapped to an ARP) to see if I could press the balancer in more. But, the crank bolt will turn out a little bit and stop. Almost as of the threads have mushroomed in the crank so it won't come out. I torqued the crank bolt to 235 per ARPs instructions. Has anyone ran into this issue? If so any solutions. Thanks for the help everyone.

04-13-2021, 03:53 PM	#2
gunchamp Drives: 15 Camaro SS Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Mountains of central PA Posts: 1,442	Are you using an impact gun? You really dont want to use a hand ratchet on that bolt. Impact it off and torque wrench it back in place. Little scary where your at now. Hopefully it doesnt pull the threads __________________ 15 Camaro SS- GPI max top end, ESS Vortech V3 9psi, ID 1050s, ZL1 pump, JMS bap, Long tubes, Corsa extreme, Circle D pro 5C, 391 rear, DSS carbon drive shaft, poly cradle bushings, tuned by Ted Jannetty and much much more

04-13-2021, 03:54 PM	#3
gunchamp Drives: 15 Camaro SS Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Mountains of central PA Posts: 1,442	oh and welcome to the forum. Great wealth of knowledge here and a great group of folks who love to help __________________ 15 Camaro SS- GPI max top end, ESS Vortech V3 9psi, ID 1050s, ZL1 pump, JMS bap, Long tubes, Corsa extreme, Circle D pro 5C, 391 rear, DSS carbon drive shaft, poly cradle bushings, tuned by Ted Jannetty and much much more

04-13-2021, 04:48 PM	#5
1JEWLDSSRS Drives: 2011 SS-RS Join Date: May 2011 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 11,394	When you do the impact, put something behind the balancer like a pry bar to apply some light outward pressure on the unit as this will help keep outward pressure on the bolt and hopefully help get it past the point where the threads are messed up. __________________ TSP STAGE 3 CAM,231/246 @112 LSA 614/641 LIFT, CIRCLE D 5C-4200-4500 CONVERTER,LOD INTAKE.CORSA EXHAUST. DSS 1 PC DS. PEGASUS SOLID CRADLE MOUNTS. 486RWHP/475RWTQ.LOTS MORE.

04-13-2021, 05:11 PM	#9
1JEWLDSSRS Drives: 2011 SS-RS Join Date: May 2011 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 11,394	Yea, when we did mine we used the GM Performance crank bolt. __________________ TSP STAGE 3 CAM,231/246 @112 LSA 614/641 LIFT, CIRCLE D 5C-4200-4500 CONVERTER,LOD INTAKE.CORSA EXHAUST. DSS 1 PC DS. PEGASUS SOLID CRADLE MOUNTS. 486RWHP/475RWTQ.LOTS MORE.

04-13-2021, 04:20 PM	#4
kingp8 Drives: Chevrolet Camaro SS Join Date: May 2019 Location: United States Posts: 6	I am going to try an impact tonight. I was a little nervous to do so because of the current situation. Thanks for the reply and welcome. I'll let you know how it goes

04-13-2021, 04:50 PM	#6
kingp8 Drives: Chevrolet Camaro SS Join Date: May 2019 Location: United States Posts: 6	That is a good idea, I will definitely give that a shot.

04-13-2021, 04:52 PM	#7
PaulsSS Drives: 15SS Camaro Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: US Posts: 345	I;'ve had a few similar experiences with the arp crank bolt. I only use the factory bolt now.

04-13-2021, 05:03 PM	#8
kingp8 Drives: Chevrolet Camaro SS Join Date: May 2019 Location: United States Posts: 6	Paul, did you ever figure out what happened with the crank bolt after getting it out. I will most likely be using factory bolt from now on as well.

04-13-2021, 07:08 PM	#11
kingp8 Drives: Chevrolet Camaro SS Join Date: May 2019 Location: United States Posts: 6	Hey guys, got the bolt out thankfully. Just the threads on the end of the bolt were chewed up. I'm still curious on what caused this though haha. Thanks for all of the help!

04-13-2021, 07:37 PM	#13
kingp8 Drives: Chevrolet Camaro SS Join Date: May 2019 Location: United States Posts: 6	Thanks man, such a relief to have it out! I am not sure what happened, it might just be an odd occurrence. I guess this is the first time I have run into this so I am not sure the correct way to advise you. Good luck on the install!