Head Bolt Removal
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2015
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Head Bolt Removal
So...starting the tear down of my 460 and I have hit a roadblock...the bloody head bolts are not budging...it's as if the damn things are welded in...any tips on not breaking my back trying to get them loose? I have already had large wratchet with 3 foot steel snipe...and nothing! Thanks!
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,250
Likes: 11
From: West Virginia
They get crusty and can bet slightly bent over time and abuse. Remove the ones you can, and spray penetrant on the others. Heating red hot with a torch can work as well, and sometimes impact works where brute strength fails.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,250
Likes: 11
From: West Virginia
Yeah, I didn't catch the ratchet. Never use a ratchet for breaking loose bolts. Dangerous and doesn't work as well.
And honestly if they are that stuck, heat and oil don't help, then just put a cheater bar on a 3/4 drive breaker bar and twist them off. Once the head is off your an probably turn the remaining bolt out with a vice grip. They usually come out easier once the tension is off em. Worst case scenario is the block goes to the machine shop to have it drilled out.
And honestly if they are that stuck, heat and oil don't help, then just put a cheater bar on a 3/4 drive breaker bar and twist them off. Once the head is off your an probably turn the remaining bolt out with a vice grip. They usually come out easier once the tension is off em. Worst case scenario is the block goes to the machine shop to have it drilled out.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,311
Likes: 31
From: Nevada
Just went thru alot of tough a$$ header bolts but your saying 'head' bolts right? Anyhow, i finally started seeing success with a lot of direct heat and then taking the air ratchet and giving it a few bumps in the 'tight' direction and then in the loose direction, back and forth back and forth if need be like 30 times..... Also worked like a champ with my spark plugs, which im fairly certain have been in my motor since 2001 and under water for some time... 
Good luck.
Good luck.
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 475
Likes: 34
From: Vermont
A BIG punch or a large junk bolt held with vise grips on each headbolt and given a good solid ka-thump with a fair size hammer. The vibes help tremendously on any bolts that need to be removed. Be aware of aluminum,cast iron etc,etc, castings. Common sense helps in any scenario but a headbolt should be fine with a good solid whack. Should crack loose with a breaker bar then.
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