Repair of sheared thermostat housing bolt

[projectSHO89]

Has anyone done this and can offer tips on how to do it?

I don't feel like replacing the entire water outlet (looks like a Christmas tree with all the water fittings).

It looks like the sheared upper bolt has a hex head on the backside of the outlet's mounting ******, but I don't know if it was screwed into the outlet housing, pressed in, or what.

If all else fails, I'll just drill it out and install a new bolt to replace it, but any input from someone who has made this repair would be appreciated.

Steve

 

[BlackOnBlackATX]

Yeah, I just did the same thing tonight. Sheared the top bolt right out because i'm an idiot Please!! Anyone who knows about this let me know, I have no desire to remove the water outlet in 30 degree New York weather if I dont have to this week!! Also if we have to replace the water outlet, does anyone know if it is SHO specific or can we take one of a SLO? Thanks! And if I get an answer beforehand i'll put it up!!

 

[SolidState]

I believe from what I have seen, the water outlet is SHO specific...

 

[BlackOnBlackATX]

Ok, well I guess we expected them to be SHO specific, so thats no great shock. I looked through previous posts, and there were very few on the water outlet, but some people seemed to think that the studs holding on the thermostat housing could be easily replaced by removing them from the back of the water outlet or drilling them out and not pulling off the water outlet at all. I dont really know which is realistic but does anyone even know how hard it is to pull off the water outlet? Hope someone knows.

 

[BlackOnBlackATX]

PS- Happy Thanksgiving you guys!

 

[BlackOnBlackATX]

OK projectSHO89, heres the deal, I got the sheared bolt out and I ended up having to take off the intake manifold to get to it easily though. Thank god though it only took me about 25 minutes to get it off since ive done it before! After doing that and removing most of the hoses I had a pretty clear shot at twisting the remainder of the stud out with a set of vice grips. Lukcily I didnt spill any coolant doing it since it all ****** out last night when I broke the bolt Now I think the rest should be easy because this looks like a standard bolt but hopefully Ford wont screw me too bad for it. Im hoping there is an off chance Autozone or NAPA might have this kind of bolt laying around, cuzi went to HomeDepot and Lowes yesterday and they both turned out pretty lacking. Just so you can see what im talking about:

In case anyone doubts me!

ahh, there she is, incapacitated

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/spastikjack6/vwp?.dir=/SHO+Water+Housing&.dnm=close+up+of+the+water+outlet.jpg&.src=ph&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/spastikjack6/vwp%3f.dir=/S **%2bWater%2bHousing%26.dnm=intake%2bremoved.jpg%26.src=ph

I really dont think I could have done it too easily without pulling the intake off.

the good end of the bolt~! little ****, look at him, sitting there all smug...... flip_off

<small>[ November 28, 2002, 12:29 PM: Message edited by: BlackOnBlackATX ]</small>

 

[BlackOnBlackATX]

OK, sorry the photos wont post, i dunno what im doing wrong, but here are the hyperlinks:

The Temperature!

My crappy little dead end street

close up of water outlet

good end of the bolt

ps- the back end of the bolt did NOT have anything holding it in! So you know it should twist right out!

 

[BlackOnBlackATX]

OK!! All done!!! I got the bolt out yesterday and unfortunately the Ford's by me didnt have any so I went to Autozone (I would assume Advance Auto or Pep Boys or Parts America would have the same things) and I bought a 6mm x 37mm stud/bolt, whatever you want to call it. Ford said the actual size is 6mm x 32mm, but no one had that size. But it went right in! Tightened it with some vice grips, and back in business!!! beer beer thumbs_u

ps- i tried the 6mm x 31mm, its a no go!

<small>[ November 29, 2002, 01:46 PM: Message edited by: BlackOnBlackATX ]</small>

 

[projectSHO89]

Been out of town since a week ago Friday. SHO has been parked on the street, broken, while I was gone.

I had already located the same stud, also at AZ.

Mine had sheared off flush with the housing, not enough extended out the back to get any grip on. I decided to drill out the old stud and retap it, but ran into problems. As my drill bit exited the rear of the stud, it hit against the outlet housing and broke the bit - flush with the housing surface.

Recognizing I was screwed, I parked it and ordered a replacement housing from Mark Nunnally. I guess that will be my project for tomorrow afternoon of Monday.

Steve

 

[projectSHO89]

New housing installed.

No leaks, has heat.

The $200 SHO lives on!

Steve

 

[luigisho]

Don't you mean the $2k money pit?

 

[BlackOnBlackATX]

At least you got it fixed man, but tell me, how hard was it to replace the water outlet housing there? Im curious for future reference. Thanks!
Bob