Can anyone help? Moon Twp area

**PaxtonShelby** · 02-19-2008, 03:29 PM

Hi folks

I have an intake bolt that broke off inside the head of my assembled ( used ) shortblock that I want to drop into my wife's '66 GT and I have been unable to get it out. Wondering if anyone would be available to help me with it - I'd gladly compensate you with a tasty homemade dinner prepared by my wife ( you don't want to try my cooking ) and a couple of cold beers ( any flavor, as long as it is Sam Adams!!!

). I really don't want to have to take the motor to a machine shop for this ( too much of a pain ), and I don't want to pull the head ( it's a 62k mile motor in nice clean condition ) - it's currently on a stand in my garage - and I swear it laughs at me every time I walk past...

I tried to use an easy out without success. It is possible that I made the problem worse...

Anyone out there hungry / thirsty??

**somethingclever** · 02-19-2008, 04:51 PM

Buy some left handed drill bits from McMaster Carr....1/8" dia. ...I've used them in the past...works well.

Might as well spray a healthy dose of PB blaster down the hole too.

Make sure to start with a center punch on the top of the broken bolt so the bit doesn't want to walk off.

**PaxtonShelby** · 02-19-2008, 05:32 PM

Thanks for the tip, but I bought an easy-out kit from Harbor Freight and lubed everything up with penetrating oil overnight and still was not able to get the bolt to bite. I might give it another try tonight - the thing is that the bolt is small, so I have to use a narrow bit - and those skinny bits break so easily. Once this bolt is out I'm ready to roll - have all the gaskets ready - all the swap parts ready - everything painted and ready to reassemble ( except the carb )...and spring is getting closer every day...and the wife keeps "asking" me if her GT will be back on the road by then....

Hopefully I'll have some success tonight with this f#*%^ng bolt. Film at 11...

Either way, the cold beer offer is always there for those who "happen" to be in the neighborhood...just shoot a PM my way.

**somethingclever** · 02-19-2008, 06:10 PM

A right-handed bit will want to screw the bolt in farther....the left handed bit backs the bolt out as the bit is drilling in....most easy-outs are junk. Try the bit.

**SonofaBish** · 02-19-2008, 06:39 PM

I agree... i've never used the left-handed bits but i've heard good things about them

I live down on Neville Island so if i can lend a hand, let me know - i'll do what i can... I dont have any of those drill bits tho, sorry!

**speedracer** · 02-19-2008, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by SonofaBish

I agree... i've never used the left-handed bits but i've heard good things about them

I live down on Neville Island so if i can lend a hand, let me know - i'll do what i can... I dont have any of those drill bits tho, sorry!

The left handed bits will only work if the bolt is kinda loose. Is there some of the bolt sticking out, flush or counter sunk? I get broken bolts out for a living lol If I was closer I'd get it out for you.

**INSANELY CRAZY** · 02-19-2008, 07:36 PM

i use reverse bits allday at work removing bolts, they are great. i've had some come out and a few that are tough. if i was also closer i'd help out..

**Black87GT** · 02-19-2008, 09:51 PM

we did the same thing when torqueing down my lower intake manifold, and tryed to drill a hole in the center to get it out, and ended up breaking the skinny ass bit.. and thought it flew into the block (was rlly scared) and then we ended up getting it out by using needle nose pliers and gently grabbing a little tiny piece that was above the head.. and turning it slowly till a good bit was out... took awhile, but i will never trust using one of those skinny as bits again... ****ing piece of shit...

**low12lightning** · 02-19-2008, 09:51 PM

Easy outs are good if the bolt is not in tight. The best thing you can do is to weld a nut to the top of the broken stud. Not only will you have somthing to grab, but the heat you put into it usually helps to free it up. Wait at least a few minutes after to allow the bolt to contract. I've done this almost everytime i've broken a bolt and never had it not work.

**Black87GT** · 02-19-2008, 11:20 PM

Unless it broke down inside the head, and there is no thread showing... (what mine was like)

**low12lightning** · 02-19-2008, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by Black87GT

Unless it broke down inside the head, and there is no thread showing... (what mine was like)

Yea then your F...ed! Heat around the bolt with a torch so the surronding area expands.

**PaxtonShelby** · 02-20-2008, 01:22 AM

Thanks for the tips - I'll try them and report back here. The bolt sheared off pretty much right at the level of the head. I lucked out and the skinny bit that busted did not fly into the block. Intake bolts are usually easy to remove - not torqued very tight - and all the others came right out - but this f'n one was the first one I tried and it snapped off way too easily. Either it was overtorqued going in or the bolt was junk to begin with.

I'll stop by Harbor Freight tomorrow and see if they have any left-handed bits there. That sounds like the easiest and most popular way to go.

SonOfA- Thanks for the offer. Where on Neville are you? My sister used to live on Oak Lane - nice little area down there. I'll shoot you a PM if I don't have any luck. The tough part lately is finding a spare hour or two to spend in the garage. Hopefully in the next few days....

**wick** · 02-20-2008, 06:52 AM

You need to weld a nut on the bolt. It works everytime. But you need to find somebody with a 120 volt welder

. HAHAHAH Depending on how far you are from me, I can probably stop out. I cant drift too far from home right at this moment. My wife is ready to POP!!! I think we are pretty close to each other. Shoot me a pm and we can go from there.

**Stangman701** · 02-20-2008, 10:29 AM

When this happened on my 85 I just completely drilled it out and put a helicoil in. It was the bolt on the passenger side head closest to the front of the motor and all the metal shavings just came out the bottom of the hole by the dist. The drill bit for the helicoil was big enough that there was no problem with it wanting to break.

**PaxtonShelby** · 02-20-2008, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by Stangman701

When this happened on my 85 I just completely drilled it out and put a helicoil in. It was the bolt on the passenger side head closest to the front of the motor and all the metal shavings just came out the bottom of the hole by the dist. The drill bit for the helicoil was big enough that there was no problem with it wanting to break.

Thanks for the help. That's the exact same bolt that broke on my motor. If I can't get it out with a left handed bit or the mig method, I'll just do what you did. I have never had to fool with helicoils, but I guess they can't be too tough. I'd just have to be careful with all the shavings so nothing ends up inside the motor. And the intake manifold bolts don't get torqued down too hard ( except for this one, apparently ), so I'd think it would hold up just fine.

**SonofaBish** · 02-20-2008, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by PaxtonShelby

SonOfA- Thanks for the offer. Where on Neville are you? My sister used to live on Oak Lane - nice little area down there. I'll shoot you a PM if I don't have any luck. The tough part lately is finding a spare hour or two to spend in the garage. Hopefully in the next few days....

I live on Fourth ave, just a block up from the township building - a stone's throw from the memorial park... Oak lane sounds familar, but i can't put my finger on exactly where that is...

It is a nice area, but i'm looking to get outta there - I'm tired of renting and would like to buy my own place....

**PaxtonShelby** · 02-20-2008, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by SonofaBish

I live on Fourth ave, just a block up from the township building - a stone's throw from the memorial park... Oak lane sounds familar, but i can't put my finger on exactly where that is...

It is a nice area, but i'm looking to get outta there - I'm tired of renting and would like to buy my own place....

Ok - I know roughly where you are. Oak Lane is about 2 blocks past Island Firearms on the left heading from Coraopolis toward your place. Nice place - but the flood a few years back was pretty scary for those folks.

Good luck with the house hunting. I have a buddy selling his place in Moon - walking distance to Hyde Elementary School - caldesac lot - 3 BR - 2 1/2 bath - new kitchen & SS appliances, new bathrooms, basement apartment with its own bath & kitchen, covered deck, and the clincher - a detached 3 car garage with a pit for working underneath the toys!!

I believe it is listed for just under $180k. Not cheap, but definitely a good value. And with rates being so low right now I think it's a great buy. Just throwing it out there - I'd love to see it go to a car guy. Otherwise it's a waste of a great garage. His Dad ( original owner of the house ) was a USAir mechanic who could build/fix/paint anything, & my buddy bought it from his Dad when he retired to Florida.

**speedracer** · 02-20-2008, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by wick

You need to weld a nut on the bolt. It works everytime.

99% of the time, I worked at the coal mine I'm at now for about 16 years now and probably got 2-3 thousand broken off bolts out, there has been a few that just do not come out.

**wick** · 02-20-2008, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by speedracer

99% of the time, I worked at the coal mine I'm at now for about 16 years now and probably got 2-3 thousand broken off bolts out, there has been a few that just do not come out.

HAHAHAH I think you have taked out just a coupkle more than me. HAHAHA No, really, mines are hard on equipment. The acid eats everything away. I am an operator for a landfill. Only had one bolt not come out and it was my fault. I used a soft bolt on a motor stand and it stretched the threads so bad it was gaulded in.

**speedracer** · 02-20-2008, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by wick

HAHAHAH I think you have taked out just a coupkle more than me. HAHAHA No, really, mines are hard on equipment. The acid eats everything away. I am an operator for a landfill. Only had one bolt not come out and it was my fault. I used a soft bolt on a motor stand and it stretched the threads so bad it was gaulded in.

I hate every bolt on D10N's Idler bolts on them seem to stick for no good reason and the exhaust studs on the back cyl (3412's) blow even with the stud removal plate.