Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Top bolt on starter is a Beach

[mental floss]

I am putting in a new starter in the morning. Using a NAPA rebuilt and I hope I made the right decision. Top bolt on starter is a knuckle buster, any suggestions on how to tighten it without busting something(mainly me). Oh BTW you use a 10mm 12 point wrench to take bolts off.

 

[KcoleKennyc]

Those are tough. I had to buy a longer combination wrench to get mine off. Seems that all the metric wrenches are very short. The longer, the better. Good luck.

 

[Got Smoke?]

My dad and I both tried to break loose the bolts last night to install LarryB's contact kit. We couldn't BUDGE them!



Mentioned it to a friend at work today and he said "bring that truck in here"



I did, few seconds after that he was under the truck and I heard a "POP"



..... "don't tell me you got one loose!? "



... . "no that was the 2nd one!" :--)



The best way I see is a 12pt 10mm wrench and a lot of UMMPH, and a cheater bar possibly

 

[KEarnest]

they ARE tough!

mental,



like Got Smoke, I installed Larry B's super starter contact kit this past weekend. those starter bolts sure felt like they were tighter than 18 ft-lbs, more like 80 ft-lbs!



i used the box-end of a 10mm gearwrench in conjunction with a small hollow cheater bar on the bottom 2 bolts, and used a heavy-gloved hand and only the gearwrench on the top one since i could get some good leverage on it.



hope that helps, good luck!