PHH lower bolt removal - DID IT!

[Bambusiero]

After reading so much about the difficulties of getting
the PHH lower bolt off, I went out to the truck with the
idea of just seeing if I could even find the stupid thing.

I did find it, and could see it, just barely, from the top.

Couldn't resist the urge to try and get a wrench on it.
Just to see, you know. Wasn't really serious about it.

Tried a 12mm gearwrench (ratcheting box wrench).
It wasn't long enough and just couldn't reach.

Tried a Craftsman 3/8 in. drive, long reach, flex head
ratchet (about 11 1/2 in. total length), with a standard
12mm socket. (see 1st photo)
With the flex head in sort of a "limp wrist" position, I was
able to get it on the infamous lower bolt. I was reaching
down the back end of the head with the tool, but with my
hands in the clear (barely). It took a little fiddling to get
the socket on the bolt, but not all that much. There was
enough torque to break loose the bolt. Furthermore,
there was enough room to turn the wrench by 3 ratchet
clicks each swing. The "flex head" had to flex some as the
handle slid along a small metal tube while it swung.
Got it out in a few minutes.
(see 2nd photo)

Take heart fellow wrench turners - IT CAN BE DONE!

 

[desertdude]

then what happened?

 

[Atticus]

then what happened?

His headgasket exploded.

 

[rolliges]

then what happened?

A slow and insidious loss of coolant began which will result in a spectacular head gasket failure while crossing the Great Divide some time in the future.

 

[IdahoDoug]

I like this part the best:

"There was
enough torque to break loose the bolt."

Whew - good thing you were using the big kahuna...heheheheheh


DougM

 

[Houston FZJ80]

Nice solution...

damn, your engine bay is clean!

 

[adam4x4]

It's not too bad to get to...I did mine from underneath with a regular wrench though. The picture Beowulf had really helped with finding it by feel.

 

[Bambusiero]

"then what happened?"

"A slow and insidious loss of coolant began which will
result in a spectacular head gasket failure while
crossing the Great Divide some time in the future."

"His headgasket exploded."

HEY! YOU GUYS MADE ME TAKE IT OFF!

-------------------------------------------------------------

I like this part the best:

"There was
enough torque to break loose the bolt."

Whew - good thing you were using the big kahuna...heheheheheh

Well, I guess that was a bit obvious. I only mentioned
it to point out that she didn't put up a big struggle,
being a "virgin" screw and all. Started with a firm
fingertip grip and brought it to conclusion with a little
light stroking.

damn, your engine bay is clean!

Thanks! I floss daily.
Actually, I finally cleaned it up last weekend with Simple Green
after a year of dust building up in the sticky goop the
dealer detailer spayed all over to make everything
look slick and shiny and new. I HATE that stuff!
I couldn't touch anything in there without getting dirty.