Rounding Bolts on Trans

[bmxking5]

Well, I'm trying to unbolt the transmission from the back of the motor. The thing was put on with a damn impact wrench last time :fire: :fire: :fire: :fire: and now they're so tight the bolts are just rounding trying to get them off (I have two on the right and left upper corner that are rounding, and I haven't even attempted the two top, center bolts.) Any tips?

 

[IZwack]

Geezus! What tools have you tried so far?

As one of your last resort, you could try to use a bolt extractor that eats into the head:

 

[bmxking5]

Lots of extensions on a 1/2" drive ratchet with both 12 and 6 pt. sockets. (13mm) I've sprayed it with wd-40, didn't help. Just got back with PB blaster, so hopefully that will do something. It's tough to get in there with Vise-grips, but I'm gonna try that again after I eat. Any suggestions?

 

[Turdle]

If you can get a gator grip socket, believe it or not,they work well enough to give it a shot. I got mine at wally world.
If that doesn't work, you can use a chisel angled on the head of bolt, and whack it the direction it should go, just enough to loosen and finish with a wrench. It seems like that would be a tight fit though, unles you could find a real long chisel.

 

[bmxking5]

Never used one. I'll try the Vise grips again and if I can't get it tonight, I'll go to Sears tomorrow and get some of those. Thanks.

 

[bmxking5]

What's a gator grip socket? I was just at Wal-Mart, but I'll run back up there if you think it would get it off.

 

[Turdle]

I am not sure they still have them, but it is that deal they had on tv, it comes with a cheap ratchet, and is a deep dish socket with pins inside that lock around irregular shapes. It does grab good, just isn't real heavy duty
It should be in a plastic hanging package

 

[Glacier991]

I doubt that (the wally world socket) is gonna help ya - just a light duty thing... If you started with 12 point sockets, you probably dug yourself a deep hole that way... I wish I had some magic advice for ya. I am sending you good thoughts and hope you can bust em loose.

 

[bmxking5]

I started with 6, then tried a 12. I always thought that 6 point sockets grabbed better, but then I was told today that 12 did.

 

[IZwack]

I would def try the bolt extractor. Give it a gentle whack with a punch and a hammer to make sure its on the head and start twisting slooowly. Its what I used to get a frozen exhaust manifold bolt out.

But good luck, this one sounds like its a toughy..

Oh and of course, if you can get a hold of an torch, warm up the block - or just let the engine run for 10 - 15 minutes But then its going to be a hotty up under your vehicle. Oh and the ice cube on the head of the bolt trick after the heat Its like black magic or something

 

[EMG7895]

Run the engine and heat the block around the bolt with a torch and tap the bolt with a hammer, then try again.

 

[bmxking5]

Well, I did try heating it. My neighbor let me use his torch, I got it heated up, and put on a 1/2 12 pt socket (I think it's supposed to be 13mm, but honestly, both the 1/2 and 13 fit the bolt like a glove [well, the bolt that I already have out that's in good condition]) and it still rounded it. I'll try the idea of the ice and/or hitting with a hammer. Oh yeah, and I started a small fire on top of my trans (probably from all the pb blaster) and had to grab the fire extinguisher to put it out.

 

[bmxking5]

I'd prefer to heat the thing up by running the motor, but can you actually crank the motor when you've got all the sensors pulled from the t-case and trans, the hydraulic clutch line that goes to the slave cylinder, as well as not having any fluid in the trans, and no t-case on at all? If it will actually crank and be fine for everything, then I'll try that. I'm guessing I couldn't though, since you have to push in the clutch for it to crank.

 

[IZwack]

So what's the ultimate last resort if you cant get this off?
Just wondering cauz I have NO idea .

 

[bmxking5]

So what's the ultimate last resort if you cant get this off?
Just wondering cauz I have NO idea.

Pull motor and trans together....cut off bolt....get trans off....heat block and vise-grip the rest of the bolt out of the block...reinstall. Sounds simple enough, might give that a try tomorrow...........

 

[IZwack]

Pull motor and trans together....cut off bolt....get trans off....heat block and vise-grip the rest of the bolt out of the block...reinstall. Sounds simple enough, might give that a try tomorrow...........

Ahaha well alright then sounds like a plan!

 

[bmxking5]

I'd prefer to heat the thing up by running the motor, but can you actually crank the motor when you've got all the sensors pulled from the t-case and trans, the hydraulic clutch line that goes to the slave cylinder, as well as not having any fluid in the trans, and no t-case on at all? If it will actually crank and be fine for everything, then I'll try that. I'm guessing I couldn't though, since you have to push in the clutch for it to crank.

can i do this?

BTW, to be perfectly honest, I'd put a 5.0 in this ***** before I went through the trouble of pulling the motor just to get a couple of bolts out.

 

[sn0border88]

6pts grab better, it just has more contact area, and also I would imagine that the bolt is suppost to be a 1/2", so I would only stick with that. I know as well a 13mm fits well (almost perfect) on a 1/2" but if its rounding, only use the right socket.

Best bet would be the bolt extractor, or a vice grip.

We have these vicegrips at the shop (I forget the name) its like a pipe wrench, but has a sliding neck and is like a locking pliers. They will get anything out, and can usually get into a tight space. They are a snapon tool, I just searched the site but couldnt find one.

 

[sn0border88]

I take it you are coming in from atop the trans tunnel?

(Remove seats, carpet and blockoff plate)

 

[bmxking5]

No, I'm coming from the bottom. I don't think I'd be able to get it off very easily from there. I tried the 1/2 socket on a different bolt and it wouldn't fit on there (it was a perfectly fine bolt) so that's why I went with the 13mm.

I always thought that 6pt was better for grabbing it, but two people today told me that 12pt was better...even though there is less of a contact area on it.

Been trying vise-grips, and those won't work either. Too small of a space.