help broken bolts

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Nov 30, 2004 | 02:44 PM

moritz1024

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 119

Likes: 0

From: nj

help broken bolts

im currently changing my thermostat due to the fact tha i put an electric fan in my bronco. i have an 89 with a 351w from a 90. i broke the two thermostat housing bolts and they r pretty rusted in there( thats y they broke due to somekinda build up)i have lefty drill bits and extractors but due to previous experiences with broken bolts i dont know if the extractors r gonna work. i need to get these bolts out to get my rig back on the road. any suggestions are gladly appreciated.

one bolt is broken with a lil more than a quarter inch sticking out. the other bolt is broken pretty close to the intake manifold

Nov 30, 2004 | 04:41 PM

mswamper

Freshman User

Joined: Sep 2004

Posts: 49

Likes: 0

From: Medical Lake, WA

I would remove the manifold, drill the bolts, then soak in trand fluid over night before using easy-outs. If they still won't give, drill and retap one size larger then use helicoil inserts beforwe new bolts. Put anti sieze compound on new ones before installing. I just replaced all intake bolts on 69 351W with stainless.

Anytime the bolt goes through water jacket or coolant I use anti sieze on the threads.

Nov 30, 2004 | 06:53 PM

BOJOFASO

Elder User

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 813

Likes: 0

From: NJ

grind the broken bolts flush with the manifol. center punch the bolts and drill them out. dont drill them to big and you will be able to use a tap of the same size as the original bolts. as you retap the holes the rusted old bolt pieces will come out. if you take your time and are carefull you wont need to helicoil the holes at all and they will be just as if you got the bolt out normally. DONT RUSH AND YOU WILL BE FINE.

Nov 30, 2004 | 07:29 PM

tHeCoS

Senior User

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 172

Likes: 0

From: Los Angeles

For the one that is sticking out. use a small pipe wrench (yes the one you use for your house plumbing). my dad showed me that one after i stripped the hell out of it with vise grips and broke two drill bit inside. The bolt was the EGR bolt next to the TB. As for the second one, you'd have to drill that one out... take bojo's advice DONT RUSH!

Dec 1, 2004 | 04:21 AM

moritz1024

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 119

Likes: 0

From: nj

yea i know all about drillin out bolts, ive drilled out a few handfulls alread. i pretty much had this bronco in pieces and have had to get out alota broke and stipped, rusted bolts. for one bolt i may have to drill. but first i think im gonna take my upper intake manifold off and any rubber hoses that can burn and im just gonna heat it upwit the torch and see wat i can do one at a time if i cant get a grip on that one short broken bolt i think im gonna try drilling it and then heating it up. with some luck ishould be able to pull this off.

thanks for your help

Dec 1, 2004 | 04:03 PM

Dennisf76

New User

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 6

Likes: 0

From: Connecticut

Good luck moritz1024 the same thing just happened to me 30 minutes ago (but just one bolt), I was thinking about drill it out, how hard is to take the manifold out? may be a good idea, well, is already cold here in Connecticut.