Battery hold down bolt won't budge

[konaboy]

So the battery in my '97XLT decided to crap out yesterday in the 0* temps. Came home yesterday afternoon disconnected the battery cables, went to loosen the bolt that holds the block in place to hold the battery down and it won't budge. Went through a bunch of different size sockets and the 8mm seems to be the one but it won't budge the bolt. Now the bolt head is rusted. Sprayed PB Blaster penetrating catalyst on it, won't budge, broke out the vice grips (I know not the best idea) and it wouldn't budge with those.

Sprayed more PB on the bolt and down between the battery tray and the metal flange the bolt screws into and soaked the crap out of it. Decided to just let it sit all night. Have yet to try it this morning (-6 wind chill right now and no garage) Any ideas how to get this thing off if the PB didn't work? Need to get a new battery in it today, talking 8-10" of snow tomorrow into Monday and I need to get to a shop to pick up a snow blower.

 

[bill06447]

Eat your Wheaties for breakfast this morning. Vise-Grips should have turned it or snapped it. Then get a $10 universal hold down.

Bill

 

[JimMadsen]

It is plastic, and with the bitter cold, should be brittle. Try a hammer and chisel.

First use a cheater bar or breaking bar. Whats the worse that can happen? Ya break it?

 

[konaboy]

It is plastic, and with the bitter cold, should be brittle. Try a hammer and chisel.

First use a cheater bar or breaking bar. Whats the worse that can happen? Ya break it?

You'd think so but not so much, it wouldn't crack around the bolt enough to break it free. The bolt itself wouldn't even snap off with the vice grips. Winds have picked up to a steady 15-20mph, it's friggin cold! I was ready to drill it out but decided to call Firestone, since they are an interstate battery dealer and that's what I wanted to put in, to see how much a battery and installation was. At this point the $15 to put it in is worth every penny. If I had a garage to work in that got me out of the elements or it was a little warmer I'd drill it out and be done but the cold was just making it to hard to work.

 

[swshawaii]

Here's an aftermarket replacement if you don't want to get gouged by the dealer parts department.

I usually avoid Dorman/HELP! stuff, but this should be pretty "safe". Agree with the chisel method. GL

http://www.dormanproducts.com/p-942-00588.aspx

 

[konaboy]

So the head of the bolt did have to be cut off. They put a new bolt in with the battery and they didn't charge me any extra so $99 for a battery, $15 for install, being done freezing my you know what off fighting this thing= priceless!