Need Throttle Position Sensor Screws!

[87Z52]

Ok so I was adjusting the throttle position sensor on the '87 and I snapped one of the two screws that holds the sensor to the throttle body. It just so happens that these are the most widely NOT used screw in the world! They appear to be 4.5mm x .75 pitch. I cannot find these screws anywhere! I'm going to try a salvage yard tomorrow but that seems like a long shot.

To get them from GM, I am told that you have to buy the entire sensor. Anybody have these screws or know where I can get them? I'm tempted to tap the holes to 5mm (a size you can actually purchase!) but I'd rather not.

 

[tigmaned]

mine did the same thing, so i put heil-coils in both and made them 10/32 screws now.

 

[bossvette]

try Gardner-Westcott
http://www.gardner-westcott.com/

 

[87Z52]

mine did the same thing, so i put heil-coils in both and made them 10/32 screws now.

Thanks...can I ask...why use heli-coils as opposed to just drilling and tapping to 10-32?

 

[tigmaned]

well i knew these two screws need to be loosed once and a while to adjust voltage of the TPS, and with the steel screws going into the alumnium casting they are going to do the same thing again and corrode. mine broke off below the surface and tring to easy out the broke screw the whole lope cracked off so i had to TIG a lope back on then re-drilled the wholes and heil-coiled them. its been a temp fix for about 8 months now till i find a good deal on a better shape?? i have seen a few later C-4 ones on ePay but not any to match my 86 yet? and BBK's are little to price right now.

 

[bossvette]

I will look thru my extra TPI parts and see what I have; the earlier style throttle bodys are easier to adapt to a street rod so they get snatched up a little quicker. I know I have parts for 2 complete units plus some spares.


you should always use anti-sieze on your steel bolts going into aluminum especially if you want them to come out. There was a guy on Ebay selling stainless bolt kits so that what I use in mine.

 

[wro87]

I agree YOU have to USE some type of ANTI-SIEZE on any type of dissimilar metals and if you have an ACE HARDWARE anywhere near by. The one around here have a really great selection of Stainless Bolts in Metric and SAE threads you can buy just one or two or the whole box. And boy do they polish up REALLY NICE! WRO87

 

[Agent 86]

I did what you are thinking. Tapped to 5mm stainless screws