Broken valve cover bolt

[DJ S]

Well while my grandpa and I were fixing up our tudor yesterday when we realized the oil leak was going out of control! I crawled under the car to see where all the oil was coming from and noticed quite a bit seeping out of the valve cover. My grandpa grabbed a ratchet and started tightening some of the bolts with a 1/2 ratchet. I leaned over the fender watching him as he turned some of the bolts quite a bit until I heard one snap and the head of the bolt make a -thump- on the grass... Now what? We need to remove the manifold either this weekend or next weekended to have it planed as we have a terrible exhaust leak. The #4 exhaust port is so far separated from the block that we might just replace the manifold altogether, as we have one that is far better. So when we remove the manifold we'll pull off the valve cover to remove this bolt but we don't know how... so how do you remove a broken valve cover bolt?

[CarlG]

Depends on where it broke. After you get the valve cover off, if there is any of the bolt sticking above the block surface, just grab it with vice grips. If not there are other ways, such as easy-out, put a screwdriver slot in the bolt with a Dremmel tool & back it out with a screwdriver. It most likely isn't really stuck in there, plenty of lubrication abounds in that area.

[Mitch//pa]

ouch a 1/2 ratchet on a 5/16th bolt is a no no....

here is what i would do as the bolt should not be in very tight because the head was holding the torque...

if any part of the head is sticking out slot it and use a screwdriver or pliers
if not
try unscrewing it by tapping out with a small pointy punch
if not
drill into it with a reversible drill bit.. starting small and getting bigger. this will sometimes grab the bolt and unscew it.
if not
i would use my short quality easy outs or tap a allen wrench into it and try that..
using good quality tools will help prevent failure....
here is a pic of my reverse bit and ez out set

[WestCoast]

dnot use the twist type easy outs, as they go in and grab the bolt the can and will expand the bolt thus locking it in even tighter, use the square tapered ones they have a grove made on one side that when driven in the hole drilled for it , they lock into the bolt with out expanding it as you unscrew it

[RUNNERBUN]

Hi Mitch, if I sell up here and move to the US and buy a house close to your workshop would you allow me to borrow some of your impressive tools every now and then. I promise I will treat them with the utmost care. Sure I could buy you a cold one in appreciation.

[Willie Krash]

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Getting the bolt out shouldn't be a problem, well than dumping grandpa..
Work on the car when he takes his nap.

[1955cj5]

Hey I was going to ask Mitch to put me on his Christmas list....that is a nice Snap-on set!

However, I was able to remove a similar bolt from my core engine with an everyday easy-out type set from my local parts store...

Your bolt is probably not rusted in so that is a real plus....

I just drilled it a little way in, and a little pressure with the tool and out it came....possibly the only successful extraction I've done with an "easy out" tool!

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by RUNNERBUN

Hi Mitch, if I sell up here and move to the US and buy a house close to your workshop would you allow me to borrow some of your impressive tools every now and then. I promise I will treat them with the utmost care. Sure I could buy you a cold one in appreciation.

Originally Posted by 1955cj5

Hey I was going to ask Mitch to put me on his Christmas list....that is a nice Snap-on set!

However, I was able to remove a similar bolt from my core engine with an everyday easy-out type set from my local parts store...

Your bolt is probably not rusted in so that is a real plus....

I just drilled it a little way in, and a little pressure with the tool and out it came....possibly the only successful extraction I've done with an "easy out" tool!

You guys are welcome to use my tools, just put them back in the right place or I'll never find them

[Big hammer]

I like your Allen wrench trick! Your easy out set looks like new ;-)

[James Rogers]

Bet you can screw it out with your finger.