I was prepping up my timing area getting ready to put the gasket and timing cover on today, when I noticed there was a bolt that had been broke off in the block previously. It is the lowest passenger side bolt to the timing cover.

I had bought the block from the engine shop that did my engine, and never noticed this before till today. There is not any way to grab the end, whatsoever. I will be posting a pic of it tomorrow. It almost looks like the threads are fused to the broken bolt. It looks like somebody started to try to get it. (there is a tiny mark in the middle)

I am curious about extraction of this bolt given the area it is in. I do not want to mess up the block trying to get it out.

I would cart the block back over to the shop, but dont really have a way to do that at this point, or want to. (it was a pain getting it to my house)

So what is the best method of extraction here? Also I wondered if I would be guaranteed a oil leak if i left this one bolt out. (the oil pan clamps down right around there.) My gut instinct is saying take care of it while it is on the stand.

 

Can you drill it out?

 

put silicone on both sides........

 

Just get an easy-out kit and remove it. Simple as that. They make tools that are made for specific situations just like yours.

 

Yea sounds easy... But dont let the "easy out" name fool you. I can be a real pain in the ***.

 

Yeah I might be able to do that. I think I am going to head to sears tomorrow morning and get a kit with the left hand threaded drill bits, and easy outs.

My only fear is that it will not turn. It almost looks like the surface has weird wear in it where the bolt and threads meet. In other words it looks kinda mushroomed in there. I guess worst case scenario is I am going to have to tap it, or helicoil.

 

The trick to using easy outs is to use the right drill bit for it, it should say on the side of the easy out witch bit to use, and go deep enough to get plenty of "bolt" to grab. I use them about every day at work.

 

It broke off FOR A REASON. Cast iron block and steel uncoated bolts = rust.

Soak it with some PB Blaster, slowly heat it with a propane torch before attempting to use an easy out.

Otherwise it should be drilled out with a right angle drill and re-tapped while in the car.

 

And don't forget to use a punch to create a dimple, so the drill bit
doesn't "walk around" on the [broken] bolt, which also ensures the
hole will be centered properly.

 

Would it be more trouble for you to fuss with it and maybe make it worse or take it back to the the machine shop and have them take responsibility for it and fix it right? A machine shop should have little trouble taking care of it. I would give this option more consideration.

 

I am thinking this was probably from overtorquing the bolt. But yeah I am going to heat it with a mapp torch.

I know what your saying. I am going to try to see if I can make any progress on it and then consider taking back if I have issues. I will try to see if it is going to budge at all.

 

I agree with this and the easy outs. Another thing is is it might also look strange maybe because someone cross threaded the bolt in there and then it broke off. at which point you may need something to clean the threads up or a tap..

 

Yea well no ****. Of course its not just gonna unscrew its self for him. He's gonna have to put some work into it, but easy-outs are made for just this reason right here. So whats your point??

 

Ok bought the kit from sears with easy outs. I tried drilling into the bolt that is in there with no luck. The bits that came with my kit are just not biting into the bolt and going anywhere. I am also worried that I am making metal shavings around the almost finished longblock.

Here is what I am dealing with. It looks like the threads are damaged already, without me doing anything to it.



Another closer shot



Looks like I will be calling his shop tomorrow and getting ready to haul it back up there. Sucks when crap like this happens. As you can see it is right on the corner of the block close the the main, and I dont wanna be liable for that. Time for a beer I guess.

 

That bolt looks like it's welded in!!