thecorey

i've had a b16 in this crx for about 5 yrs now and i never had many issues with clearance. yesterday the alternator started rubbing on the part of the frame that i already dented in. well i pull the alternator and realize it's got a LOT of play because the bolts that hold the bottom alternator bracket are all loosened up, BUT they won't budge. i tried tightening them and loosening them, and they won't move. i definitely don't want to force them too much, as they will probably break off. the last thing i need is 3 broken bolts stuck in the block and no alternator.

so what are my options here? how hard would it be to get the bolts out if they did break off in the block? will i need to take the engine out? should i just make a bigger dent in the engine bay and leave it they way it is?

thecorey

bump

Spug

If they won't budge either direction, then they've been like that for quite a while and obviously didn't just happen to loosen up.

If they snap off in the block, you're probably going to want to pull the engine to gain ample access to them.

Rather than denting the engine bay more, I'd just get a new belt, that one is probably stretched.

thecorey

damn, so you're saying the bolts probably aren't gonna come out no matter what? i'm gonna try some penetrating lube and heat first. hopefully they'll come out. i really don't wanna have to pull the motor.

v4lu3s

why would you wait to do heat and penetrating lube? it sounds like you already know what to do and hoped someone knew a magic spell or something lol

thecorey

well i got the heat idea from someone else. i figured i was gonna try out the penetrating lube, but figured it probably wouldn't work. but yeah, i did come to see if anyone had any other ideas, magic spell or otherwise.