Broke a header bolt
02-23-2008, 06:52 PM
#1
Broke a header bolt ... Installing my LT's today. The front passenger side one snapped off like a twig as soon as it touched the header flange, I didn't even snug it down. Its snapped off way inside the head so I can't really get anything on it to get it out. My question is, will it be ok even if it leaks for a week or 2 until I can get the head off and have it taken out?
02-23-2008, 06:58 PM
#2
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as long as the gap is not bad and you dont drive 30 miles every day. if so and to much cool air gets in it can damage the valve. however, i dont recommend it, my .02
02-23-2008, 10:55 PM
#3
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damn, I ran into the same thing working on a friends car not too long ago. Ended up dropping the K member to get to it instead of pulling the head. It was easier IMO and I didn't have to buy new bolts or gaskets.
02-23-2008, 10:58 PM
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dude, its just gonna leak. if you gotta wait to fix it then dont sweat it. it maybe anoying sounding though. you dont need to worrie about cold air getting at it.....
02-24-2008, 10:17 AM
#6
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At least its in the front, can you get a drill in there? One thing that works for me sometimes is a left handed drill bit, a little smaller than the bolt. Try drilling it, and when the drill catches, it will unscrew the bolt out. Another method is a drill bit and an easy out. Center punch the broken bolt, drill a hole in it , then hopefully back it out with the easy out.
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02-24-2008, 10:05 PM
#10
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i wouldnt drive the car u could deff. j make more problems, wouldnt be good if too much cold air gets in there. this happend to me too.i broke the back bolt driverside. i had to get it drilled out and re tapped.
02-25-2008, 06:05 PM
#13
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what are you talking about dude? its a friggin exhaust leak. stop talking about stuff you dont know about and starting internet folk lore. To the OP, you might have to take off the head. if you cant tap it around w/ a small punch then i wouldnt start drilling it w/ the head still installed. i can guaranty you will walk the bit and start drilling the head.
02-27-2008, 09:12 PM
#14
Do you know what the stock bolts are made of? I was thinking about breaking out the welder and just tacking a skinny bolt onto it. I looked in the hole with a mirror and its not as far in as I though, just a little above flush with the side of the head, maybe 1/64th sticking out.
02-27-2008, 09:50 PM
#15
well im sure they are steel. but working with stubborn aircraft all day our preferred method of getting broken bolts and screws out are chisel and hammer,ez out, and we dont have any left handed drill bits but they work good too. i would try the ez out.
02-27-2008, 10:14 PM
#18
Don't let people scare you. I drove the entire 2006 power tour (all 3400 miles) with only three bolts holding in my driver's side exhaust header. It wasn't intentional, but only a couple days before the tour, I was doing something and went to snug down the driver's side bolts and one snapped clean off, while two others stripped. I didn't have the time to pull the head, so I removed the header, put exhaust gasket sealer on both sides of the gasket and used the remaining 3 bolts to clamp the header on. Granted, by the time we got home, I had exhaust leaks all over the outside of the head, but the car ran fine and I have no problems (knock on wood).
