stupid head bolts

[Possum79]

So I went over to my buddies house the try and rip the head off his dasher. We did a compression check first and pulled 310 375 110 310 from it. We were taking it out to check out whats up and see if the gasket was blown. Well one of the head bolts rounded out. 11mm hex. So we tried to hammer a torx in it. No luck. We couldnt hammer a socket as it was one of the far end ones you cant get to. So drill it out we did. Problem is that the bolt head is gone. The bolt seems stuck in the head. We took all the bolts out to pull it up and all it did was just rotate the head. It seems totally stuck. I mean the head is probably warped like crap now but we still cant get it off. Any thoughts?

79 dahser wagon 1.5l.

[arb]

Heat the block. Heat is always your friend when a bolt is stuck in steel. I'd use a propane torch as you can't harm the metal with it. Get is good and hot. Are you able to get the head to lift enough to put a small pipe wrench on the bolt ? If you drilled the head off, you should be able to life the head off. If not, head the head in that area the same way...

[Possum79]

Were scarred to use any heat around the aluminum. The bolt head is totally off along with the washer under it. The side of the cyl head towards the trans moves freely. lifts a little and rotates around great. When we rotate it the bolt seems to rotate freely in the block now and stuck in the head. we hit it with a little wd40 just to soak as we gave up last night.

[arb]

So, the engine is still in the car and that's why you can't rotate the head until the bolt is out? if you don't want to head it some (up to 200 degrees will not harm it) then you probably have to pull the engine so you can rotate it off. Then it should pop out the right way.

[Rabbit on Roids]

just torch the head, its amazing how much heat they can take. i heated my TD head up smokin hot one time in an attempt to get a busted bolt out of it. you can use heat pretty much anywhere.

[theman53]

If I am understanding it correctly the bolt is free in the block but stuck in the head. I would try to cut the head off the bolt and pull the head off then turn the bolt out. Or if you can lift it off the block if you have room you could take a cutoff wheel and cut the bolt off NOT FLUSH then lift the head off and unscrew the bolt. Or drill a hole into the head of the bolt and try to use an extractor to get it to turn. Or drill the entire bolt out the depth of the head and break it off above the deck.
Or pull the engine, but that sucks for one bolt.

[burn_your_money]

Drill a small hole in the bolt and use an extractor as mentioned above, or cut a slot in it and use a screw driver.

If that fails, just keep drilling.

Or, use a punch and beat the hell out of the bolt and then see what's what. Try not to mushroom the head though.

[jtanguay]

this is why head studs are sooo appealing  :wink:

[Possum79]

this is why head studs are sooo appealing  :wink:

Seriously. If I pull me head I am getting studs. The engine is in the car still. The bolt moves when the head moves. Stuck in the head but not in the block just cant lift the thing out. I may try some heat. The bolt sticks out of the head like 1-2mm. We thought It was mushroomed but when we removed the washer from under it we figured we would at least get some up and down movement but it didnt. Our next thought was to keep drilling with a smaller bit in hopes to collapse the ceased part. If the motor was out we would just rotate the head till it came off.  I am very anti extractor tool person.  Had one brake and don't trust them now.

[Possum79]

Also forgot to metion we checked the notches on the HG and its a 5 notch. WTF!!@!@ Definitely need to measure the piston protusion. <-spelling?

[dieselweasel]

I think if it were me I'd just keep on drilling.  Fair bit of work but easier than pulling the engine.  I don't like the extractor idea either...if the bolt is seized to the point that the head rounded out, I imagine an extractor would just break.  Would be worth trying some heat first though...just don't get crazy with the aluminum.

[arb]

I am very anti extractor tool person.  Had one brake and don't trust them now.

Sounds like someone sold you a low quality extractor. I've never seen a high quality one break. On your problem, since the bolt is no longer stuck, the extractor will have a very very easy time of getting it out. Go to Sears and get a Craftsman extractor set, or Mac tools, Snap-on, or some other quality extractor and you will not have problems with them.

[Guipo]

Seriously. If I pull me head I am getting studs.

I cant afford head studs!  

I'm gonna take a propane torch to it tommorrow, lets see what happens.

Guipo

[arb]

Seriously. If I pull me head I am getting studs.

I cant afford head studs!  

I'm gonna take a propane torch to it tommorrow, lets see what happens.

Guipo

Aluminum expands more than steel, so head the head only and you might get it to slip off. An easy-out is the best bet, though.

[Possum79]

Seriously. If I pull me head I am getting studs.

I cant afford head studs!  

I'm gonna take a propane torch to it tommorrow, lets see what happens.

Guipo

What time??