This really sucks, any advice?

[TTyMiller]

I put on a new valve cover gasket and when I was tightening the bolts down one of them broke off the head bolt.

[TobyB]

Of course, those things always break off flush, don't they?

You need some type of screw extractor. I use e-z- outs because I can get them.

There are several different types, but you get to drill a small hole

into the CENTER of the top of the remaining stud, insert the extractor, and try to back it out. I've heard that the 'hammer in' type are pretty good,

but never used them.

They usually come out.

If it doesn't, then you have to carefully and slowly enlarge the hole

until you have just a thin ring of steel (this is why you were careful

to center the hole.)

Then peel the threads out with an icepick- like tool.

Good luck-

make sure to keep your steel chips

out of the head.

hth

t

[oldguy]

I usually use a little heat and then with alot of pressure and a slow speed I use a left handed drill bit. Harbor Freight sells a bit kit for $5. Eventually it will just spin itself out. If this doesn't work then move to the easy out. Ezout's are made out of unbeatable carbon steel so if they break you're fubard.

[TTyMiller]

The top of the bolt is in the nut. The actual head bolt is what broke off. Are you saying to drill into the head bole itself and try to back it out of the head, I'm not following, sorry.

[DUDONLY]

Well hello Mr. Miller I just went out to the car to take a look at the valve cover nuts and if what happened is what I think your saying I would remove the valve cover and new gasket place a cloth over the valves and then see if there is any of the stud sticking out. Get a good pair of vice grip plyers and try to back the stud out that way. Keep it simple before drilling.

Dudley

[TTyMiller]

Dudley, where you been? I thought you were gonna get in touch for those seat belts and I have those stickers you wanted. I'll try that because when I think of drilling I think about something else.

When you coming over for some buffalo steaks and beer?

[DUDONLY]

Yeah sorry about the slow get in touch..... I've been preoccupied with a good friends funeral and now a good friends wedding at the end of this month but after that count me in for that steak and some beer.

Dudley

[TTyMiller]

Sorry to hear the bad news. Sorry for your lost. Hit me up ttymiller at yahoodot com when the time is right.

[ringguy]

If there is a little meat left, you can also cut a groove with a dremel or some such tool and use a screw driver to turn it or weld a bar to it and turn it out.

Any way you cut it, it's not a big deal just as long as you drill it in the center as previously mentioned otherwise a worst case scenerio is going to be a total nightmare.

[TobyB]

The actual head bolt is what broke off.

Ok, so, err, do you really mean that one of the bolts that hold

the HEAD onto the BLOCK is broken? 'Cause that's what a head

bolt does!

Now, since you're working on the valve cover, I thought

you'd snapped one of the studs that sticks OUT of the head.

I guess there is one bolt in the front of the cover, isn't there...

Any way you cut it, head bolt or bolt head, if there's not enough

of the shaft (heh heh) sticking up out of the flat surface to get

vice grips onto, then you're at Driller time. And the Left Handed Drill Bits

are a great idea...

hth,

t

[aa/fd]

TobyB has it correct "center" is the key to the drilling process. If you can not locate it you will make a bigger mess than you started with.

If no vicegripable remnants are protruding above the surface you need to drill, make sure to follow the center line.

A second person is very useful here guiding the driller as to being online. If you do it correctly you can drill the stud out to the nominal diameter and remove the remaining threads.

Follow up with a tap to clean up the remaining junk, blow clean and install the new stud/bolt.

The left handed drills are a great tool, successful at removing broken bolts and worth the expense.

In my experience the older the part is the success rates with LH drills drops accordingly, as the corrosion between the unlike materials create an unfriendly bond.

Warning: an EZ-out in that size are very fragile and like the previous poster stated if you break it off, it will ruin your day

[TTyMiller]

Thanks for all your input, after I cut the gras I'm going to go at it.

thanks gentlemen!

[Arky2002]

and go to Harbor Freight (or equivalent) and get a left hand drill bit. When you start drilling, if the left hand (reverse rotation) drill bit "bites" it will back the stud out instead of sticking and breaking off.

[TTyMiller]

I got the stud yesterday put it in today. I screwed the broke one out, didn't have to drill. Thanks guys!

New non leaking oil cap and valve cover gasket, car seems to run better; probably just in my head.

[Armond]

I got the stud yesterday put it in today. I screwed the broke one out, didn't have to drill. Thanks guys!

New non leaking oil cap and valve cover gasket, car seems to run better; probably just in my head.

thats great Terry. I'm glad you were able to fix what you messed up in the first place. hehehe