broke header bolt off in head!
broke header bolt off in head! well as you can see, i broke one of my header bolts off in the head today 
the back driver side. my mechanic is an awesome guy but idk how much hes going to charge for that. anyone else make this stupid mistake, and how much did it cost you go get fixed?
the back driver side. my mechanic is an awesome guy but idk how much hes going to charge for that. anyone else make this stupid mistake, and how much did it cost you go get fixed? i havnt taken the header off yet, but i used stock bolts when putting the headers in. now there is about 2 and a half threads on the part that broke off. do you think that there is still part of the bolt sticking out?
i just checked. the bolt is just as long as the flange is thick on the headers. now if my mechanic is really good, which he is, can he get the other half of the bolt off while the engine is still in the car?
its not just the head of the bolt. its the head and about a half inch. so i dont think there is much of the bolt sticking out. im done working on that project, but do you think my mechanic can drill that out or something?
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: NC Charlotte
heres my take on it correct me if im wrong i havent installed headers so i dont really know how much room you have. Take a Punch, Punch a indention into the part then drill a hole in the bolt then take a easy out hammer it into the hole you just drilled and the take a adjustable wrench and twist the bolt out. I could be wrong I dont know how much room you have to work with. Also I dont know how much a puch and a easy out will cost you. I snap bolts all the time at work and thats how i get them out.
Trending Topics
Originally Posted by elite22xl
its not just the head of the bolt. its the head and about a half inch. so i dont think there is much of the bolt sticking out. im done working on that project, but do you think my mechanic can drill that out or something?
I'm not sure of how much room is in there, but a right angle drill with an easy out?
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: NC Charlotte
http://www.midwayautosupply.com/manu...t%20Extractors.
Not much money I sure you can find one at the hardware store.
Center Punch
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/searc...=searchresults
Not much money I sure you can find one at the hardware store.
Center Punch
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/searc...=searchresults
Last edited by Z02LS1; Mar 17, 2005 at 10:05 PM.
TECH Regular
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 416
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
I know you said there is some of the bolt sticking out, But I snaped a main cap bolt off once inside the block. I used a carbide endmill to flaten the broken bolt. Then I center punched, drilled and use an easyout. It worked really well. I thought I was going to have to crap a new block.
TECH Addict
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 0
From: Live Oak, FL - in the woods where the creatures lurk.
That's kind of a tight space, but I've got them out of tighter. If there is a local welder who is experienced in getting bolts out (i.e.,welding in really weird places) then call him in and let him build the bolt out. I've had to bend welding rods and use a mirror to get some really hard ones out. Thats only if it's broken down inside the head, and if it is, the header will have to come off.Usually the slag will keep the weld off the perimeter of the bolt if you can hit it straight on, but at a crazy angle it's tough (the weld will stick to the header).
I had this happen on an LT1. You've got a couple of options.
1) Weld on the broken bolt, like gwj said
2) Drill or right angle drill and an easy out
I ended up having the pull the head on my LT1 because there was no room to work. There actually ended up being 2 broken bolts. A trip to the machine shop and 2 helicoils later, all was well.
1) Weld on the broken bolt, like gwj said
2) Drill or right angle drill and an easy out
I ended up having the pull the head on my LT1 because there was no room to work. There actually ended up being 2 broken bolts. A trip to the machine shop and 2 helicoils later, all was well.
I snapped a header bolt as well on the driver's side, but it was the first one, closest to the front of the car. After attempting to drill it out with the previously mentioned methods and having no luck, I ended up having to pull the head to drill it out.
Not a fun time, but it can be done pretty painlessly. I'm still confused why GM didn't helicolil all of the header bolts from the factory, but then again, they really aren't concerned about guys swapping headers.
I still think header studs may be overkill, but they are good insurance. Just check out what a search for "stripped header bolt" turns up.
Not a fun time, but it can be done pretty painlessly. I'm still confused why GM didn't helicolil all of the header bolts from the factory, but then again, they really aren't concerned about guys swapping headers.
I still think header studs may be overkill, but they are good insurance. Just check out what a search for "stripped header bolt" turns up.
Originally Posted by 35thls1ss19
Well that cant be to good jay.... so when we racing?
as soon as my mechanic gets that bolt out, if he doesnt have it fixed by april 9th im going to run you at the track with the broken bolt
