Advice needed Broken header bolt :(
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10
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From: College Station
Advice needed Broken header bolt :( I broke off a header bolt at the front of the engine on #2 cylinder. I cant get a drill in there, and vice grips wont hang on, there is only a 1/4" of threads sticking out. Anyone have an idea that doesnt involve removing the head?
Thanks, I attached a picture
Thanks, I attached a picture
Last edited by turbosc3; Nov 26, 2005 at 06:13 PM.
If ya cant get it with needle nose Vise-Grips, Just a thought...Small angle die grinder chucked with bit. Would say left hand bit, but if it breaks....you are screwed. extracter. not sure about heating around it, as it is alum. and bolt is steel. Oh well good luck. Maybe anti-seze on the new ones. Hope mine are.
if you have a dremel, try to cut a slot in it and use a stuby screw driver. Or, grind flats on the sides and use an adjustable wrench. Doesn't look like you have much hangin out though. Craftsman sells broken bolt extrctors (kinda like a reverse ez out), if you can find a size that will grab on that nub, than that might work. You can try spinning it using the edge of a screw driver or chisel. Just tap it in the right direction. Know anyone that has a tig welder? Have them weld a little piece of scrap metal (like an old bolt or something) on the end of it and use a wrench. If your willing to spend the money, you can buy a terry drill and some ez outs and go that route. If none of that works, I think the heads are coming off.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Live Oak, FL - in the woods where the creatures lurk.
(1)Unplug the computer and battery. Weld a nut onto the
broken bolt, locating the welding ground lead ON the head.
If it is not really loose when you try to thread it out, thread
it out and in by increments.
(2)Or else screw around with a drill and EZ out or other and
try not to damage the surface area where the header
mounts.
(3)Then again, you might be able to grab it with some vice
grips and thread it right out.
I would do (1), b/c I've done it a 1000 times with broken
bolts.
broken bolt, locating the welding ground lead ON the head.
If it is not really loose when you try to thread it out, thread
it out and in by increments.
(2)Or else screw around with a drill and EZ out or other and
try not to damage the surface area where the header
mounts.
(3)Then again, you might be able to grab it with some vice
grips and thread it right out.
I would do (1), b/c I've done it a 1000 times with broken
bolts.
TECH Addict
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 0
From: Live Oak, FL - in the woods where the creatures lurk.
Originally Posted by Z28LS1camaroguy
are there ways of avoiding what he did?? i mean i am gonna be installing headers and i dont want this to happen to me.
chase the threads in the heads, preferably with cutting
fluid or WD40 or similar. I had 2 bolts that really gave me
hell (going in). I had spare bolts and used beaucoupe
WD40 threading in and out until I was happy with the
threads. It looked like the stockers had thread sealant
on them, this may have caused my probs or the header
flanges might have been drilled just a little off.
BTW, all mine came OUT just fine, 2 were getting really
tight going IN on the pass side (of course).
This stuff just happens sometimes,no matter how
careful you are.
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Originally Posted by Z28LS1camaroguy
are there ways of avoiding what he did?? i mean i am gonna be installing headers and i dont want this to happen to me.
I had 2 bolts that broke on me. It was the back 2 on the drivers side to be honest. While I was working on the passenger side and finishing it up, I had 2 friends that were working on the drivers side. Come to find out, they had tightened up the very first couple of bolts all the way and then **** hit the fan.
Just be careful and do not be in a rush and you should be fine as long as you know the proper procedure.
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ok thanks that will help out, so are the stock header bolts hard to get out the first time or do they just take alittle bit of muscle to come off. also what size are the bolts 10mm??
Originally Posted by Z28LS1camaroguy
ok thanks that will help out, so are the stock header bolts hard to get out the first time or do they just take alittle bit of muscle to come off. also what size are the bolts 10mm??
