1 of my flywheel bolts has stripped. It seems to have a little form still to the head, but will not catch. What are my options? Should I invest in an air impact wrench and see if that does the job? Can I drill through the head to see if I can dig the bolt out? What have others done in similar situations? I really don't want to have to take my engine to a machine shop to get this bolt off. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
btw...the reason I'm trying to get the flywheel off is to do an oil pan gasket & rear main seal replacement.

 

Do you mean the head of the bolt is rounded off? If so you can probably find a little smaller socket and pound on the bolt. Are you using a 6 or a 12 point socket?

 

They are sockets you can buy that will grip rounded heads. Check at Sears.

 

yes. the head is rounded off a bit. i've tried using both 6 & 12 point sockets. I will look into shoebox's suggestion and also try hammering a smaller socket on. FRUSTRATING!!

 

If the special sockets dont work, you can take a dremel and a cutoff wheel to the head of the bolt. Once the head is off, take the flywheel off. With that off, you should have enough bolt showing to get vice grips on and remove it. Thats what I did.

 

Don't go banging too much as your thrust bearing won't like it!!!

 

No way I would hammer it. I would weld a bolt on it and remove it that way. 5 minute job assuming you have access to a welder.

 

I have had great luck removing stripped flywheel bolts by using the type of socket that shoebox mentioned. They actually cut into the metal of the bolt and create a new surface to grip on to. They're about $25 at Lowe's or Home Depot.

Pound the socket onto the bolt head with a mallet until it seats. Then smoothly apply torque. Keep some forward pressure on the ratchet to make sure that the socket stays seated on the bolt.

 

im trying to get mine off right now.

are they reverse threads?

dont mean to hijack....

 

Not reverse thread.

 

got em off. thanks.