I tried to change my manifold gasket, but broke off 3 bolts in the head. How do I get them out? Ive tried WD40 and vise grips, but nothing so far. I even grinded down one side of a bolt. Still nothing. So Im in a world of trouble, and any suggestions would help immensly.
Do you still have a piece of the bolt sticking out? Keep soaking them with WD40 or similar penetrating oil and try heating the area around the bolt with a torch (be careful). Sam
If there are stubs left tap them gently with a hammer to break the rust loose and soak them with liquid wrench between tappings. After a day or so of this(or as long as you can possibly spare), grab the nub with a pipe wrench. This method got two broken timing cover bolts out of my block. The pipe wrench made the biggest difference, It just grabs tighter and tighter as you pull on it. Vice grips just spun on the bolt and shredded it up no matter how hard I tightened them.
Are you the same guy who posted a question about how to do this a couple of days ago. If so, I told you that WD40 would not loosen rusted bolts. PB Blaster is the best. Try and get the manifold off over the broken bolts if there is anything sticking out, use a good penetrating oil-throw the WD40 in the trash. If you don't have any of the bolt sticking out, this is going to be very difficult for someone who has never done it. Post pics if possible. Seth
That sucks to hear that happend. If worse comes to worse you'll have to drill out the old bolt and tap new threads in.
If you can't get them out with heat or by tapping on them you will need to get a set of easy outs. Regardless start spraying them now with a good penetrating oil. http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0994428523.1111711413@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccejaddeejehmlicehgcemgdffmdflk.0&vertical=TOOL&pid=00920616000
you might try drilling them out. you get a drill bit smaller than the threads and drill out the bolt. you have to do it carefully or you can screw up your threads on the head. hopefully when you do this is makes less tention on the threads so the bolts come out. it works some times.
i have seen someone put a nut on the end of the bolt and weld it on. if you have been putting pb blaster on it a few days it might come loose. the welding will heat the bolt to loosen it...frank...
The best method is to heat them with a small hand-held torch. Keep the flame (and heat) away from any gasoline or oil...
I second on the PB Blaster......GREAT STUFF....I'll never use WD 40 again. I've gotten more stuff broken loose with PB Blaster, I've soaked stuff in WD 40 for days and just sprayed with the other stuff and let it set 20 mins or so and it came loose.
Soak with PB Blaster(a few days) then if you have something sticking out to get vice grips on, try tightening and then loosening the bolts. Some times trying to work th ebolt back and forth will loosen the rust and allow the bolt to be removed. Save the drill and easy outs as a VERY last resort. I've removed many a broken off easy outs and broken drill bits in my line of work(machinist) and it is much easier for us (cheeper for you)to remove a broken bolt then a broken easy out.
The bast way I have found is spray it with PB then weld a nut on the end,sometimes it is best to pre-heat the end of the bolt so you get a nice solid weld.When you do this you get the heat in there and the weld actually shrinks the bolt somewhat.Always allow the bolt and surrounding area to cool completely or you will twist it off ! Give it a few whacks with a SMALL hammer and bingo presto bolt removed! I do it all the time at work on Caterpillars.
I was using rust eater and wd-40 with vise grips and got one of the three bolts out. I started on the second, but couldn't get it loose, and in the process of doing that I grinded off most of the threads with the vise grips. Now I cant even grip the bolt adequately enough to loosen it. On the third bolt, it broke off in the head, and is just barely visible. Maybe a thread or two beyond the head, so I cant grip it at all. So, I bolted the manifold on with a new gasket but left the two bolts in the head. It doesn't leak from the gasket like I expected, but now it leaks from the pipe connecting to the manifold. I've sprayed it, tightened it, jammed them together with a 2x4, and still it leaks. Any advice for stopping this annoying exhaust leak? My car sounds like a lawnmower, and the chicks dont dig it.
go to napa and get some left handed drill bits a little smaller than the bolt. use a set punch to set your bit and make sure you drill straight into the bolt. nine times out of ten as you are drilling the bolt will unscrew out of the head. napa should have them if not try your loacal machine shop. YES! left handed drill bits....no joke
