Header Bolt Battle
 

Picking up from my last battle with a Mobile 1 oil filter....I am in the midst of a header install.....as the motor was pulled and rebuilt once, apparently the tech that did the headers must have mistaken the head torque specs with the head(er)......Several of these have taken a cheater to get them to move...having high miles the corrosion does not help.

Needless to say there was one bolt that decided it did not wish to depart. The bolt head rounded off when I used the cheater. Heat, bolt extractor socket, etc has not worked. Wondering if the next step is to get an angle grinder to either 1)cut off the bolt head 2)cut the bolt spacer to relieve some of the pressure. Its at least one of the easier bolts to get to.

Re: Header Bolt Battle
 

So....I assume the headers are still on since the bolt head is still on :mrgreen:.......cut the head off (head only or round the head so you can get the heads off) and get the headers removed.

Then work on the bolt.......maybe a bit of heat or all sorts of other possible methods might help once you have the headers removed. With the headers removed you also have a bit more room to work. You do NOT want to break the bolt flush with the block....so heat might be your answere.

Re: Header Bolt Battle
 

Gay....PIA. Sorry buddy.

Re: Header Bolt Battle
 

Just to be clear...these are the exhaust manifold bolts, whoever put this thing on went alittle overboard on the torque or corrision has seized them. Engine is in the car.

Re: Header Bolt Battle
 

:sign10: I know...that is what I was referring to......exhaust headers....I called them heads as I was writing about Hockey for Ryan at the same time....:thumbsup:

It would be kind of hard cutting the head of one of those head bolts for sure....:sign10:

Re: Header Bolt Battle
 

If it is easy to get to, take a grinder and cut the head off, and either use vice grips to get the bolt out, or weld a new nut on and then remove.

Re: Header Bolt Battle
 

Thanks Jeff......

Has anyone ever gotten one of these extractors(sockets) to work, only needed to try one a few times, but never gotten them to work.

Re: Header Bolt Battle
 

I prefer vice grips and heat as I have never had any luck welding on a new nut especially in a tight space......nut always broke off again and again.....:mrgreen:

Re: Header Bolt Battle
 

They are hit or miss, by the time they are really rounded off, the extractors don't work as well.

Re: Header Bolt Battle
 

The liquid wrench is always good. Can try some penetrating oil first if you haven't yet, even though 'Uphill' it will find it's way up into the threads a certain amount at least, can't hurt to try if you don't have bottles handy.