HELP! How do I make sense of which bolts to use?

[81GMCSierra]

I made the mistake of pulling a bunch of parts out of my engine compartment so I could do some research on what they were so I could buy new ones. Now that I have done so I realized that I should have kept track of which bolts were used to attach each part.

I am now trying to put things back together with new parts and don't know which bolts to use. I am afraid of using the wrong one and striping the threads.

The parts that I am reattaching:
Thermostat housing, power steering pump, fuel pump, alternator, water pump, decel valve,

If anyone could tell me how to look up which bolts I should be using where that would b e huge help.

Thank you!

 

[GTME94]

Try threading the bolts into the locations by hand. It is very difficult to strip a thread by hand and most bolt sizes either thread in or don't.

You can tell about how long a bolt to use by using a small rod to measure the depth of the threaded hole and then measure the thickness of the part(s) you are bolting on. Depth of threaded hole + part thickness will tell you max bolt length before the bolt will bottom out.

 

[highdesertrange]

the fuel pump is a 3/8 bolt with a 7/16 head, it's odd. the thermostat are 5/16 bolts and should be the only 5/16 out of the ones you mentioned except for the alternator tension bolt it might be 5/16 or metric but it's much to short for the thermostat plus you only have one. the wp are 3/8, I believe 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 you should have 4 of these. the decell valve should bolt to the carb with beveled head flat or Philips screws. the rest are for the ps pump. hope this helps. highdesertranger

 

[firebane]

I found when working on the truck and putting crap back on most of the time a 7/16, 9/16 and a 5/8 socket was all that I needed lol.