i had a valve cover bolt brake off!!!!!!!!!!!

[philallemang]

in the process of putting back on the valve covers i broke off on of the valve cover bolts!!! it is on the back side of the engine toward the passengers side. i was wondering could i just close off the whole on the valve cover and put some extra glue on the valve cover gasket?

i already tried to use a little punch and hammer to try to screw it out but it didn't want to move

i need ideas!!

 

[luigisho]

Here's what I did. I got a set of the Craftsman bolt extractors (a little over $30). Like a reverse drill bit but flared and work very well. Use a reversable drill preferably with a chuck that needs a key to lock it down tight. Punch a little hole in the middle of the stud and let the drill bit do the rest. You will need another bolt and they are $25-30 each from Ford and may come only in sets of 3 or 6. So be sure to ask around here for any spares.

 

[naval-avi8or]

You need a #1(size) easy out and a #40 drill (bit). Drill through the center of the bolt and then insert the easy out and handle in the bolt and turn counter clockwise. You can place the easy out in the drill motor but be very carefull. I take it that this is a long bolt since you indicated the pasengers side. Have you taken the cover back off and checked if there is enough shank left to grab it with some water pump (channel lock) plyers.

BTW~Ibroke one 2 weeks back when I did mine and I was using a torque wrench set in the middle of the torque spec. Luckily I realized what it was doing and backed it out and than snapped it in half with my fingers (short one on outer cover drivers side). Good luck

 

[sdpatt]

Repeat after me, "8 to 11 lb-ft of torque on the valve cover bolts. Set the torque wrench twice, torque once."

You will need to remove the intake and valve cover again to extract the stub of the bolt still in the head. Use the easy-out method and clean up all the metal particles that are created by the process. You can contact Performance Plus for a used replacement bolt. They even sent one to me at no charge after I sheared one off on my engine years ago. I learned my lesson about the torque wrench at that time. Only I had set it too high.

 

[philallemang]

thanks again guys

 

[Sho-N-Go]

Tight is Tight Too Tight is Broke

 

[smcallis]

For those of you without a torquewrench...A trick I use when threading into aluminum or when I have a weak bolt. I grab the head of the rachet and torque with my hand there. You get a better feel and you dont have the mechanical advantage of the rachet lever.

In the case of the valve cover bolts, you can thread them in and you actually feel them stop. The shoulder on the bolt actually seats against the head. This is your indication to go no further. I just snugged mine after that with the procedure above.

I actually tried to find a in-lb torque wrench but none of my local suppliers had one.