Broke my head bolt @#%!

[spitfire5454]

so that about sums it up. Last bolt to lossen to take off the supercharger. SNAP! Sheared the head off. Good news is that i have a lot of room and there is about 1/2" sticking out. I was thinking of welding a nut on the end of it . The heat would probably loosen the thread. My question: Is this safe? Could the heat hurt the block? And is it safe to to be welding under the hood? I dont want to blow my self up! Thanks

[Ldub]

Maybe try a heat gun & vise grip first? Even if it doesn't work, the welder is still an option...unless it breaks off further down.

I may be way off, but shouldn't the aluminium heat up & expand faster than the steel in the bolt?

Just be sure all sources of raw fuel are well sealed & there is no residual fuel left anywhere no matter what you decide.

Also be very careful not to chowder up the machined intake ports where the S/C sits on the heads, with vise grips OR welding slag..

Good Luck...

[ZEUS]

Be sure to disconnect the battery before you start welding! Arc welding can actually juice the system (so I have read) and could damage some electronics.

[Techy-D]

Gas welding maybe, but arc welding NOT, because If you were going to clip the ground to anything but the bolt itself you would probably weld the bolt to the block. You're probably way ahead of me on that, but just incase.
I don't think it would hurt to heat up the broken bolt and try to kill off some of that rust, either that or soak it with some Liquid wrench. If you have 1/2 inch left, try a good vice grip or pipe wrench to turn it (Insted of welding a nut on it). With all that said, I haven't had to do this on my VX, just other pojects around the farm, so take it for what it's worth.

[Hotsauce]

Is the bolt in up to the end of the thread?

Is it bottomed in the hole? Check another bolt.

Why isn't it loose now that the pressure from the manifold is off?

Put some penetrating oil(NOTwd40) on the bolt, and tap it on each side hard with a hammer. You are trying to get it to wiggle a bit and work the oil in, or strech the hole enough to loosen.

Keep wacking it till it gets loose. In the worst case you'll have to helicoil the hole.

John C.
Machinist

[psychos2]

Heat the bolt til it is very hot and take a candle and touch it to the bolt and the wax will lubricate the threads and the bolt will come out easily with vise grips . but you do have to get it pretty hot. shawn

[rowhard]

Heat the bolt til it is very hot and take a candle and touch it to the bolt and the wax will lubricate the threads and the bolt will come out easily with vise grips . but you do have to get it pretty hot. shawn

have to remember that one, sounds like a slick trick

[tomdietrying]

Why don't you go to Sears and get that gizzmo that gets what you're are talking about out. It's a two step process. First, you attatch a piece to your drill. Drill a hole into the 1/2 inch sticking out. Next, you attatch another piece and it grips into the hole you drilled and removes it. I think it's $20 bucks.
Peace.
Tom
012009