Stuck, rounded off inaccessable $%^& head bolts!

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TerryG
Posts: 6757
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 1:54 pm
Location: East Midlands

Re: Stuck, rounded off inaccessable $%^& head bolts!

#11 Post by TerryG »

Well, i have been drilling at the head for most of the day with my new cobolt drill bit set. i am about 3/4 of the way through it. OMG this is a pain in the bum. Fingers crossed after all this the head is OK. I'll be back to drilling again on saturday. OMG what a pain!
Understeer: when you hit the wall with the front of the car.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
fordfan
Posts: 51
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 6:19 pm

Re: Stuck, rounded off inaccessable $%^& head bolts!

#12 Post by fordfan »

May be a bit late for this now but this method has definately worked for me, get an impact socket thats the next size down from the one that fits the bolt and heat it up really hot with an an acetylene torch of if you dont have one a blow torch so that it expands,hammer it onto the bolt ,let it cool down so it shrinks on to the bolt and then you can usually give it a big shock with a hammer and your biggest socket bar and it should come off. I usually end up loosing the bolt and socket though but it has worked for me as a last resort.

Good Luck
harvey
Posts: 286
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 4:47 pm

Re: Stuck, rounded off inaccessable $%^& head bolts!

#13 Post by harvey »

If it's the bolt that I think it is from reading his description it's down in a well and you won't get an impact socket on it. I use a thinwall bi-hex Britool socket that I've had for years but TBH most times I think the socket has split when it's just the bolt coming undone with a crack. Sooner or later the socket will cry enough I suppose. If it is that bolt, and he's already rounded the head off he hasn't got much choice other than getting the bolt head out of the way altogether, and drilling it is probably the easiest way all round.
Currently over 35 years worth of fixing 35 boxes.
Hoping to reach 65 years worth of fixing 65 boxes.
User avatar
TerryG
Posts: 6757
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 1:54 pm
Location: East Midlands

Re: Stuck, rounded off inaccessable $%^& head bolts!

#14 Post by TerryG »

After spending several DAYS drilling the bugger, the head of the bolt is about half way gone but i decided enough was enough and bought another pair of heads. I fitted them last weekend but screwed up the valley gasket so it will be next weekend before i get my big toy back. then i have to take it straight to my welding man for a new rear cross member, front inner wings, rear inner wings, etc, etc, etc (all the bits i bodged last year with GRP) hey-ho, it's all good fun.
I will drill it off but i was too impatient to get my car running, take it to be welded up and start driving it again!
Understeer: when you hit the wall with the front of the car.
Oversteer: when you hit the wall with the back of the car.
Horsepower: how fast you hit the wall.
Torque: how far you take the wall with you.
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