I just wanted to follow up and say thank you again for the info! I got the 73mm crank bolt for the 2000 2.5 and wala the extra 6mm or so was perfect.
I also got a 13mm "bottom tap" to clean up the threads in the back of the hole but it was not needed. My mechanic got it torqued down , he was really impressed. Everyone was thinking the engine was toast or we needed to try one of those threaded inserts.
And 13mm is a non standard bolt size so "fastener" supply type places just laugh when I asked.
Its nice to have an alternator and power steering again.
Fingers crossed it keeps the car on the road a few more years.