Head bolts
 

What's the best way to loose head bolts to avoid breaking them off. I don't have access to a torch.
Thanks
Dick

Re: Head bolts
 

Soak soak soak!!!

Re: Head bolts
 

Agreed but I bet someone will suggest acetone and ATF. Forget that - you might as well use beer. The best I have used is Cyclo Breakaway.
https://cyclo.com/cyclo_product/break-away-2/

Re: Head bolts
 

Soak with kroil penetrant, tap top of stud with a decent size brass hammer. You may need torch so just know that . Each one is a judgement call.
Larry Shepard

Re: Head bolts
 

Even a propane torch would help, acetylene not required.

Re: Head bolts
 

I suppose if you don't have the correct tool, then soaking or other ways might be ok however it is my opinion that it has more to do with the tool you remove than with than soaking. Do a search on Snap-On A80 stud remover.

Re: Head bolts
 

Not as nice of a tool as a Snap On but one like this will generally get the job done.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c...0/w83203?pos=0

For stubborn studs I find that using a standard Mapp gas torch to heat the a stud then letting it cool down again before attempting to remove it can help. A wet rag applied to a hot stud to thermally shock it helps too. Watch out for steam burns.
Don't try to remove the stud hot as the will twist off easier when hot.

When you get one to move and its still stubborn don't hesitate to thread it back down a bit working them back and forth on the way out.

Re: Head bolts
 

I just finished a job replacing the head gasket and had a couple if I had continued with the breaker bar would have broken off a couple of studs. I used my air gun and the last three came right out without breaking any of them. The air rachets in spurts and the breaker bar is just pure pressure. It works for me every time and so far haven't broken any head studs. On our engines we use Chevy main bolts instead of studs, and I like the look they give, and have three engines that have run with them one for over 35 years. Just what I have found

Re: Head bolts
 

You have to have heat for sure. I would not remove them unless they are damaged or you are rebuilding.

Re: Head bolts
 

On my old 29 Sport Coupe, someone had used bolts instead of studs. They all came out OK but I had to heat the nuts on the only two remaining studs for the water neck. My Snap On stud remover took the studs out easily. The waterpump studs were a different story. I had to heat one of them several times to get it out but it finally let go.

Model A head studs thankfully don't go into the water jackets like the V8 engines. The V8s generally always have at least one stud or bolt break off due to corrosion down inside.

Re: Head bolts
 

When Dave in MN removed my studs, he heated them, then melted paraffin wax on the hot studs. That did the trick!

Re: Head bolts
 

Got a part #?

Re: Head bolts
 

I prefer beer!

Re: Head bolts
 

Never had one as my dad had so many from years of rebuilding small blocks, but will check it out as I may use them on my new Burtz engine. I will reply if I can stop at a Chevy dealer and pick up some bolts and then I will have the number.

Re: Head bolts
 

Anyone else tried an electric impact on head bolts (not studs)?

Re: Head bolts
 

Anyone use an electric impact?

Re: Head bolts
 

I have an old electric impact I use mostly for removing wheel nuts, works pretty good, has a fair amount of oomph, but not as good as an air one.
IIRC the one I have is Makita brand, at least 25 yrs old.

Re: Head bolts
 

I used the stud remover that 1Crosscut has posted, didn't heat any of them and used this on the last three that were giving me trouble. The air wrench did a great job and you can turn down the pressure if you need to. The air rachett seams to be a lot easier on the stud and I don't like to use the torch when the engine is so close to the gas tank

Re: Head bolts
 

Since it seems that you have bolts instead of the standard stud set up I would think that gentle use of an impact wrench would be one of the better options for you to use.

Heat isn't going to be much help. One of the down sides of using bolts is if you can't get them to turn out on their own then twisting them off or grinding the heads of the bolts off is going to be about the only way to remove the head.

Re: Head bolts
 

May i suggest using a hammer hitting your bolt head, a hand impact might also break your bolts loose. One more thought use a 6 point impact socket