So, what do you do when a head bolt snapped in the block??
well I went over it today with my boss and he said that we will try to take it out..
And he told me to get the ARP's... I shoulda took the hint.. But I just need to trailer the car up to the shop.. Which will be in a week or so..
And he told me to get the ARP's... I shoulda took the hint.. But I just need to trailer the car up to the shop.. Which will be in a week or so..
Well I got the bolt out, I punched the broken part of bolt down inside of the block..I placed a sleeve in the hole so my drill bit couldn't wonder on me.. Then I drilled a hole in to the bolt.. Got an easyout connectd to a 1/4 socket.. Then had an extension and the bolt came right out..
I just put in my new head gasket and new arp's...
Thanks for the help and ideas guys..
I just put in my new head gasket and new arp's...
Thanks for the help and ideas guys..
Restricted User
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 7,192
Likes: 109
From: Ohio
10-year old thread bump!
Just take the top part of the bolt that broke, put it down in the hole, grab a socket and an impact and put as much pressure on it as you can and back it out nice and slow. Works every time.
Just take the top part of the bolt that broke, put it down in the hole, grab a socket and an impact and put as much pressure on it as you can and back it out nice and slow. Works every time.
So the broken piece doesn't thread further in? You just put pressure between the two broken pieces and then they back out as if in one piece?
Restricted User
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 7,192
Likes: 109
From: Ohio
Yeah, when it snaps I just take my cordless impact, put the socket on it, lean on it as hard as I can and back it out slow. I did ~6 of these on one block for a buddy when his torque wrench wasn't working and he couldn't get a clue.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I have tried this and it didn’t work. The broken part in the block is a little unleveled now after I tried to drill a hole in the center. It kept going to the side.
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Verdad Gallardo Ok I had this happen. Not a head bolt but similar deal. And the drill would slip trying to get it.
Use a dremel. High speed. Tiny diamond bit. Use very light pressure so it will stay put. Once you get a crater, you can get a drill bit to start and stay centered
Use a dremel. High speed. Tiny diamond bit. Use very light pressure so it will stay put. Once you get a crater, you can get a drill bit to start and stay centered
A brilliant idea posted early in this thread of taking an old pushrod and cutting the ends off, sticking it down the bolt hole, and using that as a sleeve to center a long skinny drill bit. Keeps threads in block from being harmed, while centering the hole.
Take one of the other bolts to a machine shop or some one who can drill it down the center, now cut a piece off, thread it in the hole on top off the broken piece, now you can drill the center of the broken bolt without the drill walking on you
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I did that with a main bolt. I just removed the cap put the broken part of the bolt in the hole and backed it out. I was lucky in the way the bolt broke maybe, it came out easy as there was no pressure on it. Just sayin try the easy **** before you get all to drilling and easy out-ish.
Good luck
Good luck
TECH Addict
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,513
Likes: 480
From: PDX-OR-USA
I always use left handed bits drilling on broken bolts, it may not come out every time,, but right now I've only had it fail once out of several dozen times..
That push-rod idea combined with a lefty bit that could have potential, might be worth ordering on push-rod that barely fit in the hole and as thin a wall as possible so you can max out the drill size..
Yet a another trick in teh bag..
thanks for posting it!
That push-rod idea combined with a lefty bit that could have potential, might be worth ordering on push-rod that barely fit in the hole and as thin a wall as possible so you can max out the drill size..
Yet a another trick in teh bag..
thanks for posting it!
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 115
Likes: 14
From: Houston, Tx
Just go get a piece of 10mm or 3/8" steel tubing (assuming it's the large studs) from the hardware store in lew of the pushrod. It will have the thinner wall by default and should do the trick. That and the lefty bit and you're drinking a cool one in relief before you know it.
