TJ NV3550 starter bolts

[DirtyComanche]

I've got a TJ NV3550 and a Renix 4.0L starter...  What size/threads are the bolts?  It seems like a 3/8" UNC (coarse thread) bolt threads in nicely to the bellhousing, and maybe a little looser on the starter but still okay feeling, but it could be some metric size that's close.  Maybe M10x1.5?  I seem to recall the Renix using one metric and one standard bolt because AMC.

 

......

 

An old post from HOrnbrod says 3/8x16x1-3/4" and M10x1.5x28, but the thread was about the 2.5L which definitely doesn't take those bolts...  I'm thinking that's probably the answer.

[mjeff87]

Starter bolts on the 2.5 are both the same, and are external torx headed just like the top bellhousing bolts.  The 4.0 is the one with 2 different sizes, one standard and one metric.  I don't recall the thread pitch/size but the metric one is a 14 or 15mm bolt head and the standard is 9/16" head.  Because, as you mentioned.....AMC.

[DirtyComanche]

It appears the bolts I'd included in the OP are in fact correct for the 4.0L.

[Minuit]

13 hours ago, mjeff87 said:

Starter bolts on the 2.5 are both the same, and are external torx headed just like the top bellhousing bolts.  The 4.0 is the one with 2 different sizes, one standard and one metric.  I don't recall the thread pitch/size but the metric one is a 14 or 15mm bolt head and the standard is 9/16" head.  Because, as you mentioned.....AMC.

That's what happens when you build a vehicle made up of 25% domestic parts that date back to the 60s, 25% domestic parts from the modern era, 25% French parts, and 25% Japanese parts

[DirtyComanche]

5 minutes ago, Minuit said:

That's what happens when you build a vehicle made up of 25% domestic parts that date back to the 60s, 25% domestic parts from the modern era, 25% French parts, and 25% Japanese parts

 

Yeah, the original starters were Mitsubishi, hence probably why they used a metric bolt for the one that threads into it...

[mjeff87]

AMC.....All Makes Combined.

[eaglescout526]

What 2.5L have you guys seen where there’s two external torx bolts for the top bell house bolts? Both mine and a spare I have had all hex bolts all around for the bell and external torx for the starter. 

[mjeff87]

My MJ had them, and I was the second owner of it and can say everything on it was officially OEM stuff.  It was a renix era (87), so I'm not shocked that there was a conglomeration of different stuff on it, lol.

 

I promptly replaced them with hex head bolts when I did the 4wd conversion, like every good Jeeper should do.

[eaglescout526]

I know mine is pretty much unmolested(minus the radio). I wonder if the 88 model years fixed that issue. I'm sure enough techs complained about that being a problem.

[JustEmptyEveryPocket]

1 hour ago, mjeff87 said:

I promptly replaced them with hex head bolts when I did the 4wd conversion, like every good Jeeper should do.

 Why does everyone hate on these bolts so much? I have removed my transmission 3 times and have never had any issues. I keep putting the E12 bolts back in place because they work fine. 

[DirtyComanche]

2 hours ago, JustEmptyEveryPocket said:

 Why does everyone hate on these bolts so much? I have removed my transmission 3 times and have never had any issues. I keep putting the E12 bolts back in place because they work fine. 

 

If they're really seized in there they will smear.  I think they mostly get a bad rap because guys don't hammer the socket on them if they're cruddy.

 

I replace them...  I replace a lot of hardware anyways.  It's a consumable.

[mjeff87]

Yeah, they strip easily if one isn't careful with them.  There's honestly no good reason for them, in my opinion, when all the other bolts are regular hex head, and it's one more tool not otherwise needed that you have to keep on hand.