Are some of the water pump bolts only through the timing chain cover (it appears to be stamped steel about 1/16"? Is that the reason the 10mm hex bolts & nuts only require about 5ft/lbs of torque? If not just to the stamped metal what is behind the cover to secure the bolts?
Thanks.

prolly the block itself .....cant remeber but im pretty sure its not just the timing cover secureing it

btw those arent hex bolts LOL ...hope you didnt find out the hard way there torx... LOL

Thanks for the reply;

I know there are 2 torx bolts and about 10, 10mm hex hed bolts and 4, 15mm hex bolts holding the water pump to the front of the engine, I've had the thing off twice. The bolt I am asking about is just above the the timing mark on the damper. The threads stripped out and I had to retap for a oversize bolt. I didn't feel the tap going into anything that felt like the block. I was wondering if there was anything behind the timing cover that might have slipped or broken off that could cause me a problem with the timing gears or chain?
Thanks.

i got the manual out and it looks like the bolt your talking about bolts to t he timing cover only , as behind that is the cam sprocket ...i guess if it feels like the bolt is being held in it would be ok ....but i would worry a little about metal shavings getting down in the area or into the oil pan ....might do a oil change soon to be safe ...

Thanks a lot,

I used wheel bearing grease on the tap, the grease caught a lot of the cuttings, and I plan to do oil & filter tomorrow.