Removing balance shafts on a 2.5 oil hole question.

[Tim_K]

I've got an 89 Spirit with the 2.5 Turbo, and the balance shafts will come out sometime in the next month or 2. I know the proceedure is to drop the pan, cut the chain, unbolt the shafts, and tap and plug the oil feed hole for them.

BUT - I need to know what size tap (SAE, not metric) and what size pipe plug I need to be able to tap and plug the factory hole.

I'd like to do it once with a minimum of problems, so having the correct size parts on hand will be a big help.

Or do I have to drill out the factory hole to a larger size to tap and plug it?

Everyone talks about this proceedure, but I've never seen the pipe plug size mentioned.

[yogurtslinger]

all you have to do is tap the hole with a metric 7-1 tap which should be available at any car parts store, got mine at autozone along with the bolt to screw in.. I forget what the sae size was but, it required drilling the hole larger of course.

[iTurbo]

I've removed two balance shaft assemblies. Both times I used a 7mm tap; no drilliling required. I used a 7mm x 25mm bolt and coated the threads with two part epoxy to plug the hole.

[Stevien1]

On my van I got a short bolt that was the same thread as the old balance shaft carrier bolts. Two hardened fat washers covered up the oil passage and I threaded the new bolt in the hole closest to the oil passage. Remember to clean the threads out on the block so the red locktite can work. Crude, but it works!!

[Richard Paul]

I tapped mine out to 5/16 18 and put a setscrew in. Set it in locktite and then staked with a center punch.

[Blue Iroc R/T]

I drilled & tapped for a 5/16"-18unc and then used red locktite on a 5/16"-18unc bolt. When drilling and tapping, I suggest a think coating of gun grease on the drill (& tap) and run a slow RPM. The grease will help to hold the small chips and keep the hole clean. Don't need any chips left in the oil passages. Here are some pics that might help.
http://www.pbase.com/rmscott/balance_shaft_removal