HUGE Problem!!! Need help.

[91stangy]

I bought myself some AFR 165 heads, assembled the motor and was putting the valve covers back on and a bolt snapped in the head. We then drilled the bolt and started pulling it out with an extractor and would you believe that it (the extractor) also snapped inside the bolt. So I had gotten no luck with shattering or removing the small piece of extractor because I believe some dark forces, like wizards and gnomes, just don't want me beating Camaros all day long. And apparently this extractor is made out of Wolverine’s bones from X Men.

So here are my questions:
1. Does anyone have an idea on how to remove this evil from my cylinder head (remember it is a valve cover bolt).

2. If I can not get it out, I was thinking of using a silicon called "The Right Stuff" which I have heard is amazing along with the gasket, while tightening the 5 existing bolts down evenly. Will I have a major leak problem or will I be ok missing one valve cover bolt?

Now for an idea which one it is, looking at the driver's side valve cover, the bolt that snapped is farthest right and in the back, closest to the intake manifold.

Please help, I've had the most unfortunate events happen on the day I was going to put the engine back into my car. Thank you all for your help in advance.

 

[irish]

Oh that really sucks, been there a time or two, take head off and take it to a machine shop and have them drill it and rethread it, ez outs are made of VERY hard metal. Buy better bolts for valve covers next time, no major torque there they should not snap...sorry for your luck, mine was a water pump bolt(new) with a torque wrench.....

 

[Mr Grim]

if you can get the car to a machine shop, they should be able to burn it out while the head is still on the block. I've been there a time or two myself.

 

[Flavadave4]

Dude this sucks, I'd prolly do like those guys said and take it to the machine shop.....you don't want to muck up your new heads!

 

[86bluecobra]

is there anychance enough is out of the hole that you could weld a small bolt or nut to it. The heat from tac welding the nut onto the broken bolt usally frees them up so that you can easily turn it out. Always worked for me.

 

[whtpny]

Send both the heads to me and I will take care of the problem. I will even pay for shipping. J/K , that is no problem for a machine shop. I wouldn't mess with it anymore myself on those spendy heads. Good luck.

 

[Aryan15]

I did the exact same thing with a water pump bolt. I managed to chip out the extractor leftovers with the tip of a tap(or something else very hard) and drill out the body of the bolt without violating any of the threads. I have yet to have a good experience with extractors IMO.

 

[Pete3983]

I had a similiar problem when I replaced my heads. The head bolt broke off in the block. I didn't know what to do except possibly a new block, but instead a buddy recommended using a heli coil which is just like re-threading it. So I drilled out the bolt put the coil in and never had a problem again, everyone told me that the block was going to spit that bolt right out with the coil but that was 10,000 miles again and there isn't even any pressure near there.

 

[Mustang78]

if you can get the extractor out(did you drill all the way through the bolt? if so maybe you can pound it through..), a little propane torch will surely do the trick, aluminum expands at a faster rate than steel, so theoretically when you heat that area up with a propane torch the aluminum head will expand before the bolt and it should come out MUCH easier

~Mark~

 

[MAC'n89Blckstng]

How tight were you crankin the valve cover bolts? They only really need to be hand tight.

 

[ninety15.0]

How tight were you crankin the valve cover bolts? They only really need to be hand tight.

I was wondering the same thing....no need to wrench on those. Get some heat on it and see what you can do. If all else fails bring it to a machine shop.