Harmonic Balancer Access Hole - Thread Hole Mis-Alignment

[ColdWarVet607]

Hi Guy, Good one here

Have a'03 impala 3800NA and was working on removing timing cover due to coolant leak. I removed the Harmonic Balancer Bolt but when trying to put my pulley puller on it I couldn't hit the internal threads when putting the bolts in the access holes. I looked in through the access cover holes an can see the internal threaded pulley holes threads are shifted over just out of range of the outer access cover holes. The red cirles in the pic below show where the internal threads are.

I did a complete UIM/LIM gasket and l26 aluminium UIM conversion job last summer and didn't have this problem when removing the HB.

How can I realign this???? I tried putting the crank bolt back in and turning the crank but that of course turns the cover so no help. I dont see anyway to turn the access cover by its self to align the access holes to the internal threads.

I thought this is one solid piece as I remember so how can this happen? Any advice?

[Scottydoggs]

cause you need the right size bolts, the kit dont come with them.


three bolts M6 x 1.00 and 70-75mm in length.

[ColdWarVet607]

Scottydoggs thanks for quick reply brother, actually I have the right kit, same one I used last year, I just used wrong bolt, then looked in and saw another hole or something and thought something got misaligned. I went back after posting and took another look and saw I had the small bolts in my kit and yep they fit just fine.

The only hole misalignment is in my head. This is what happens after you spend 8 years on a nuc sub, the radiation gets to you later in life, plus for now on I'm using gloves when I work, I'absorbed enough toxens to kill all the radiation I received long ago.

Thanks Brother

[Scottydoggs]

the 1/4 inch bolts iirc fit and work, but dont thread in right feeling. many have used them and were ok, some have striped there holes out. then we got larger issues.

stuck in a can for who knows how long????? not for everyone, thanks for your service.