Stripped valve cover bolt-HELP!!!

[southernXsmoke]

I was in the process of doing my valve covers and crank seal and stripped the head of a bolt on the rear valve cover. So now I can't get the damn thing out!!! Any idea on how to get it out? I was thinking about taking a cutting wheel and cutting a new head into the bolt, but that kind of freaks me out.

 

[jmpSHO]

I was in the process of doing my valve covers and crank seal and stripped the head of a bolt on the rear valve cover. So now I can't get the damn thing out!!! Any idea on how to get it out? I was thinking about taking a cutting wheel and cutting a new head into the bolt, but that kind of freaks me out.

When that happened to me I used a cut off wheel and cut a notch in it and used vice grips to get them out.

 

[southernXsmoke]

So it happened to you on more than one bolt? lol I guess I''ll get that cutting wheel out and see where that leads.

 

[hawkeye18]

I took a torx bit that was slightly larger than the hex head and hammered that b**** on there like it owed me money. Popped the sucker right off.

FWIW, I've learned that a slow, gradual application of torque works much better to get the bolts off than simply ripping on it. That rubber (which is was causes the bolts to bind) can absorb a lot of movement at once but if you move real slow and stretch it over time, it'll break the bond.

 

[K-Dawg]

FWIW, I've learned that a slow, gradual application of torque works much better to get the bolts off than simply ripping on it. That rubber (which is was causes the bolts to bind) can absorb a lot of movement at once but if you move real slow and stretch it over time, it'll break the bond.

No, the twisting comes in the bolt shaft. The bolt bottoms out on the head, not on the valve cover grommet. I think the bolts are hard to get out because they seize in the aluminum. You have to make sure your hex key is all the way into the bolt head to keep from stripping it. If they're messy, you might have to clean them out first. I agree on the slow and gradual, while pressing down.

 

[raff18]

i use an impact screewdriver i make sure the bit is in the bolt all the way and one quick hit and it comes off no probs

 

[mrecoolgar]

A little spray goes a long way.

 

[itwonder]

Cut a slot in it using a Dremel tool w/ cutoff wheel. Then use a screwdriver to get the bolt out. An air tool cutoff wheel is too difficult to control and the slot will be too wide.

 

[hawkeye18]

Still waiting on SHOSource to come up with Torx head valve cover bolts...

 

[Phoenix]

Hammer the top of the bolt , it will flatten it (the allen patern) , then hammer down a TORK bit in the hole (biggest torx bit that you think you can hammer in that allen hole.)

Worked for me twice.

 

[hawkeye18]

Hammer the top of the bolt , it will flatten it (the allen patern) , then hammer down a TORK bit in the hole (biggest torx bit that you think you can hammer in that allen hole.)

Worked for me twice.

*ahem*

I took a torx bit that was slightly larger than the hex head and hammered that b**** on there like it owed me money. Popped the sucker right off.

lol thread reading fail

 

[Phoenix]

*ahem*



lol thread reading fail

whoops , must have passed that one , sorry.

 

[hawkeye18]

whoops , must have passed that one , sorry.

 

[jmpSHO]

So it happened to you on more than one bolt? lol I guess I''ll get that cutting wheel out and see where that leads.

Yes sir, I broke about 3 bolts. It was definately the worst 60k I have ever done on any SHO ever.