Ru2n00n3er

iTrader: (13)

I'm in the middle of a cam install and the back rocker arm bolt on the passengers side has started to round off. It just continues to round if you use a 8mm or 5/16 socket on it.

Any miracle ideas as to how to try and get it off?

If it wasn't under the cowl we thought of pounding a smaller size socket onto the bolt with a hammer, but since it's so far back we don't kow if that'll work.
I figure this has happened to someone else before.

Also, just to confirm, it's a REALLY BADidea to do a cam swap and leave one stock spring right? They're normal LS1 springs.

Tim98Z28

Can you get a pair of vice grips on it? If you can then that will allow you to break it free.

Derek98z

iTrader: (55)

I have had this happen more than once. One time I got vice grips on a front rocker arm bolt. Another time was on one further back. I used a slightly smaller socket, pounded it on, and used a torque wrench to slowly break it loose.
Better call the dealership now for new bolts. They don't always have them in stock

SUX2BU

iTrader: (14)

Stop using either 5/16 and 12 point 8 mm. you HAVE to use a quality 6 point 8 mm. yeah just vise grip it.

Brains

iTrader: (7)

For really stubborn rocker bolts I have a 5/16" impact socket I use. Works like a champ

DEFINITELY do not use a 12 point socket. That's asking for trouble.

Ru2n00n3er

iTrader: (13)

I don't have an impact wrench, nor cold you get it on the back bolt I don't think. And I didn't realize I was using a 12 point, it was only an issue with this bolt, the other ones were fine.

At this point i'm trying to pound on a 7 mm socket with the handle of a rachet, I've been going at it for 30 minutes so far while someone else changes springs.

Tally TransAm

iTrader: (17)

you could go to sears and get bolt extractor set

Ru2n00n3er

iTrader: (13)

What is that?

badpewter-z

iTrader: (4)

5/16's 6 point good quilty usally works great and have had no issues. but if youve been pounding a 7mm on there it might be to far gone now so you'll have to vise grip it and hope it breaks free and get a new bolt and a good 5/16's socket to tighten them back down after

Ru2n00n3er

iTrader: (13)

You can't get a vise grip on it since it's so far back, if you do it just slips off because of the angle yo get it on the bolt at.

Tally TransAm

iTrader: (17)

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00952161000

badpewter-z

iTrader: (4)

now those i like

ArKay99

iTrader: (1)

Another thing you can try is to loosen the bolts on the K-member to drop the motor about an inch. Then you can try using a small pipe wrench. I used one and hacksawed the end of the handle off enough so it would fit. If that doesn't work may a stick of dynamite or a low yield nuclear device of some sort...

I feel your pain.

Brains

iTrader: (7)

I don't use an impact wrench, just an impact SOCKET The walls of the socket are thicker, so it doesn't flex and open up tolerances on the wrench flats.

zo6vetteman2003

iTrader: (1)

If it were a lug nut, I wouldn't mind pounding a smaller socket on it lol! You may snap off the top of the stud and drill and tap time. There are a few brands of wrenches out there that are made for stripped bolts and studs. One is called the "super wrench." It sort of works on the same principal as a pipe wrench gripping as you turn it. They make all sizes, I would use the smallest one I think around 8-10mm. It is small enough to fit in there and give you a good turn, and they bite in the harder you crank.
Good luck. <<<<<<<<don't do this, ok??

blkZ28spt

Tally, it's too bad you didn't post that earlier as it looks like the best option at that point. I'm going to have to get some of those....I was helping with the install and all was going smooth as you could hope for until then. I was removing rockers on the driver's side with christian (ru2n00n3er) on the passenger side. He just happened to grab a 12 point and, well, that's how you learn the hard way that 12 points are evil! I almost rounded of the crank bolt on my install using a damned 12 point socket before somebody explained to me that what I was doing was "just asking for trouble".

The angle required to reach the bolt was pretty rough and there was just not enough room to work with since it was the very last bolt on the passenger side. I got some vice grips on it pretty tight once and when I tried to turn it I ended up with a small puff of powdered metal (apparently) as the $%#% thing slipped right off. If it was further forward I'd use my mini sledge and a slightly smaller socket, but we can't get to it to do that.

Long story short, it should be finished by monday.

as35thss

I had the same thing happen. You need to get the bolt extractor set. Or a 8mm one. Work great. Took it right off. I got one from the Snap-on man.

Ru2n00n3er

iTrader: (13)

Yes, but not by us.

We decided to quit right around the time Tally put up that link, which looked like it might have worked, but we rounded it off pretty badly. Well, I rounded it off pretty badly. However, I ended up calling Sears and they didn't have anything like that in stock. Also, my install is kinda under a time crunch because I'm getting ready to move to MI next week and Nate (BlkZ28spt) was helping me on a day off from work.

So basically, we had no clue how to get the bolt off, and didn't have access to anything that would have helped us do it, and were on a time constraint. So I called up Straightline Performance, and they're going to come pick up the car on Friday and finish the rest of the installation. They're giving me a good price on the work since half the install is complete already. Basically they're saving my *** and getting my car back together with the parts installed. They're really helping me out.

JoeyGC5

iTrader: (24)

Sucks about the timing/luck. But nice to see a shop helping out

Ru2n00n3er

iTrader: (13)

They're the ****.
Well, I'll wait until the car gets done when they say it will and see how good the tune is before saying that, but right now they're damn helpful

I'm just pissed that it was something this small/stupid that kept me from installing everything myself. It just shows my lack of experience working on stuff I guess. I'll just try to console myself that Monday Ill get the car back all together, the exhaust won't bang anymore, and I'll have more power