Hawaii93z28

Hi All,

I'm posting this in here since the LT1 engine compartment is fairly unique.

I am trying to remove my headers and ended up rounding the ARP 12pt. header bolt furthest front. The bolt is half way out and I seem to have exhausted my options of extracting it. The bolt-outs from craftsman don't fit (it seems to be an in-between size), i slotted the bolt head, but can't get enough torque to remove it.

i'm at the point now where i'm thinking of cutting the head off the bolt and at least getting the header off. after that, my last option is the bolt extractor, but i'm not sure this will work unless i remove the head (which i do not want to do)

any suggestions would be very appreciated. thanks in advance...

izzyz28

You're best option may be to cut the head off of the bolt leaving as much of the thread sticking out of the block as possible. Remove your header and use a pair of vice-grips to grab onto the protruding threads. How tight is that bolt in there by the way? Did it come out halfway and then stop? Just wondering. Chance are it'll come out fairly easily once the header isn't hanging on it anymore and you can get a grip on it.

BUBBA

Correctomundo. Try using Brand Name "Vise Grips" in lieu of the Crapsman. It's the only tool you will ever need. Well, except for that other one.

Loadre

Other options:

JB weld a socket or something on it
Weld a nut on it

Hawaii93z28

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it.

The bolt did come out half way and then stop, so hopefully the ViceGrips will get it out.

The JB Weld option also sounds good...perhaps I should try that before I cut the head off.

Thanks again for the suggestions.

BUBBA

Remember the bolt is at most 1" long. If it is half way out of a header flange, it's dam near home. So if you can just get the vise grips on there, it's a done deal. JMHO

Loadre

Only bad thing about JB weld is it needs to set for a full day to harden up because you're gonna be putting some torque on it depending how tight it is.

BUBBA

Don't waste your time with JB weld. JMHO

Loadre

If the bolt is on the pass side then there's no way vise grips will work. He didn't list what side so I'm just giving options.

simple

spray some PB Blaster onto the threads and wiggle the bolt up and down and side to side as much as possible
just keep working with it, like someone else said its only so long and more then likely almost all the way out already

BUBBA

Heck, if its that close to coming out, dremel a slit in the bolt head and use a screw driver.

Of course there is the cost of the dremel and expensive blade, but perhaps you can borrow the dremmel and just pay for a blade. YOu are right though, depends on where it is. I thought, however that he tried a Crapsman, so I assumed that a V grip would also be appropriate.

Using JB weld, is just like using any other adhesive, you need to have good mating surfaces, etc. and if your going to go to all that trouble and still risk torqing it off, you might as well go with the simplest solution available. Dunno though, since I can't "see" the situation.

HardcoreRM125

welding a nut to the end of it would be pretty easy if you have a welder ... And if its half out, all you need to do is tack it anyways ...


If that wouldnt work though, here is another possibility ... Take a dremel, or any kind of grinder for that matter, and cut a flat edge on the bolt head. Then do one on the other side, so that its flat...Like a square nut ( But with only 2 flat sides, and the stripped rounded head on the other sides ... ) Now that you have a flat spot, get on it with a cresant wrench ....

I know you dont have much room, but maybe somehow you can try that.

I think vise grips will spin on it inless you have at least one flat side ... So try to grind the side of the bolt ... Then vise grips should hold and pull it rite out

Hawaii93z28

Sorry I forgot to list which side it was on...it is indeed on the passenger side. Will I still not have the clearance if I cut the head off and remove the header?

I really appreciate all the replies...this board has always been very helpful.

Thanks,
Dave

Loadre

simple, wiggling the bolt all around is just asking for some messed up threads.

I think he said he already tried putting a slit in it and using a screwdriver.

If you don't have a welder and don't wanna use JB weld, your last option would be to cut the head off and hope some vise grips would pull the threads out.

I would try JB weld first, then welding a nut, then cutting the head.

Let us know how things go.

stereomandan

Slot the bolt, like you said, but then put a vice grips or pliers on the screwdriver and get LOTS more TQ.

Good luck.

Dan