Guys, maybe admitting this and asking for help will somehow take the sting out of this one. I sure screwed up today.

While installing a new water pump I got so dam embroiled in trying to get the new drive belt back on, I lost track of something.

Well I can now tell you that a water pump pulley will stay on for about 2 miles with the bolts finger tight.

Boy do I feel dumb. But then I own it, gotta move forward. Super lucky in that the pulley wasn't lost. It found a spot between the fan assembly and a support beam.

The new belt shredded, no surprise. But heres the headache. I lost all 3 bolts to reconnect the pulley.

the head is 8mm. By any chance does anyone know the metric size? Id be lucky if any of you do, just figured I'd check.

The day's gotta get better.

Thanks
John

 

Just realized- looked up in welsh catalog. JZS100105 = M6 12mm

was thinking about stories of folks who lost the light nuts to one wheel. They borrowed one nut from each of the other wheels to get home. . .
Is this bolt the same as the oil pan bolt? Terry's Jaguar shows it to be. If yes, and I cant find 3 of them around here, could I borrow 3 from the oil pan? Obviously I dont know how many are in place and if it would make a difference, that's why I'm asking.

Thanks again John

 

For quick, Home Depot has M6 12 mm, maybe Lowe's and all the auto stores too. At least in steel hex cap, probably in stainless socket cap too. Probably better than robbing the oil pan. The belt is still serviceable?

 

Wow John that is very unfortunate. Glad the only loss was a belt.

Probably no consolation, but the repair manual does say "Discard the water pump pulley retaining bolts." You just did it at an inappropriate time.

From what I can find the bolts were M6x50mm on early cars then M6x55mm later on.

 

John,
I have an engine I can get the size of the bolts. If your not in a hurry I can mail them to you on Monday.

 

Thanks Bob, found replacements. I appreciate it.

John

 

Good news, alls's ok. New bolts from local auto parts store, pulley undamaged, new belt, no leaks.

Loved Rothwel's note about disposing the old bolts - needed a smile yesterday. Guess I dodged a bullet this time, lesson learned.

Thanks,

John

 

glad all worked out - changed title to reflect issue resolved