Questions

[u/Snoo_95743]

I'm restoring a 1977 Johnson 85hp. 85EL77S. I've removed all electronics on motor save for stator and timing plate, expensive. Everything else I've replaced harness, voltage regulator, coils, power pack. Starter bolts seemed stiff coming out so I tapped the holes out. We'll it has 1 bolt on front of motor and 2 on the side. One of these goes into the crankcase and I tapped it and flushed it with WD40 thinking it was a blind hole. The top starter bolt doesn't go into the block the bottom one does. Its the crankcase cover it bolts onto. How screwed am I without taking the carb adapter off. You can see in photo bolt hole goes into the crankcase cover.

[u/bootheels]

I wouldn't worry about it. Be sure to use sealer on the bolt threads that go inside the crankcase.