Broken intake bolt in head.

[rs2k]

The driver's side front intake bolt broke while removing my intake on my 302. It seems to be seized pretty good. I've got it soaking in PB Blaster but I have my doubts on getting it out. I can't get a very good grip on it with pliers. Attempting to drill it out may not go well as I didn't quite center the bit when I first tried.

I'm going to try continuing my drill hole and using an extractor next. Any ideas other than that? Maybe I should just take off the heads and put something better on.

 

[bill06447]

Wait until you get the intake off, then there will be more of the bolt sticking out of the head to get a grip on.

Bill

 

[rs2k]

I already got the intake off. There isn't enough bolt because of the angle. I can only grip about half the bolt with the tip of my very large pliers.

 

[bill06447]

If you can't get a grip with your Vise-Grips, before trying to drill, -carefully- file or cut the piece so there's a flat surface to re-center the drill in...watch that you don't bust up the mating surface of the head. Worse case you might find yourself pulling the head and sending it to a shop to have the broken bolt removed.

Bill

 

[rs2k]

Yeah, I figured that would be worst case. If that needs to be done I'll probably see about doing some upgrades while I'm at it. Drill out and heli coil is probably my best bet. Not sure if I can trust the extractor.


... sure is tempting to put some better heads on while I'm here though.

 

[rs2k]

I cheated!

I welded a nut to the bolt.

Now... any ideas on where I can get a replacement bolt? It was a double bolt. It had a stud on top for a nut for the coil packs. I guess I could make my own using a stud and two nuts, but I'd rather have the right bolt.

 

[jremington59]

Good job on getting that out. You can go to Ford and get it.They'll probably only have to have 20 dollars for one bolt, lol.

 

[rs2k]

The ford dealership is $7 in fuel away plus a good amount of time and they have pricey bolts. I think I'll just make my own. lol. A stud and two nuts should be more than adequate.

 

[bill06447]

Good job! That's not cheating that's ingenuity...I didn't suggest it though because for some reason I thought that the head was aluminum

Bill

 

[rs2k]

Thanks! I don't think it would have seized if it was aluminum. At least I've never had trouble with broken bolts in aluminium. The aluminum oxide corrosion doesn't seem anywhere near as bad as iron oxide corrosion.

I think the heat from the weld went quite a way in breaking it loose.