cout

After putting my radiator in, I discovered a leak in the plastic thermostat housing. Bought an aluminum thermostat housing and new thermostat from mazatrix to replace it (I'm really starting to dislike plastic parts in the cooling system). I ended up ripping the head off the lowermost bolt on the thermostat housing uh oh.

Got what was left the bolt out with vice grips. Went to try again and the same thing happened, but this time we messed up some of the threads taking the bolt out.

Well now I don't have any bolts left and I need to replace them. Found this thread with bolt sizes (SWEET!):

https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-gen-archive-72/master-list-thread-sizes-2nd-gen-nuts-bolts-367392/#post3712226

It lists M6x1.0 short bolts for the thermostat housing. I agree, but I can't measure the bolts anymore to get the length, since they broke. IIRC they were close to 25mm in length.

1. What is the right length for these bolts?
2. Will regular stainless steel bolts work or is there anything special about these bolts?
3. Where's a good place online to buy replacement bolts? I like the fact that most everything on the car takes a 10mm ratchet, but the local hardware stores don't seem to carry metric bolts with 10mm heads.

clokker

iTrader: (2)

Have you tried Ace Hardware, they usually carry a pretty good selection of metric stuff both stainless and regular.
25mm sounds about right for the length.

After you run a tap down the threads make sure you use antiseize on the bolts when reinstalling...those poor things get a lot of heat and moisture not to mention the galvanic reaction from steel into aluminum.

cout

So I don't need to use aluminum bolts?

clokker

iTrader: (2)

I'd consider aluminum bolts to be the worst possible choice.

When I was futzing around with my cooling system I replaced the three bolts holding that cover with studs- same studs that hold the thermoclutch to the waterpump snout, in fact- which will eliminate the problem altogether.