Removing 28 year old manifold heatshield bolts

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jonheld

jonheld

10 Year 15 Year
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Dec 8, 2006
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456
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Location
New Jersey
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www.sdsysdesign.com
Title says it all.
My heat shield bolt holes have mostly rotted away and the shields are rattling nicely against the manifold, causing me untold amounts of woe and strife.
I purchased brand new shiny ones (17167-66040; 17168-66020) along with new hardware (91651-B0814), had them blasted and ceramic coated, and they're ready for install.

Now I know that as soon as I put any real amount of torque on those bolt heads, those bitches will snap right off like dry pasta.
I was looking at an induction heater as I'd rather not get into the engine bay with a MAP gas torch for obvious reasons.


If anyone has any thoughts on the matter, I'm all ears.
 
I have definitely had luck with heat and breaking old bolts loose. About 5-6 yrs ago, I had to loosen some bolts for a trailer hitch I though would do the same so I grabbed my charcoal lighter which is also electric and used it to heat up the bolts. Worked like a charm. Here is a version of what I used. Just held/hung it against the bolt head until it was searing hot. I also did not want to torch under the back of my truck. I would give that heater you linked to a try for sure.

Amazon.com : Char-Broil Electric Charcoal Starter,Black : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Amazon.com : Char-Broil Electric Charcoal Starter,Black : Patio, Lawn & Garden
www.amazon.com
 
Wow, hadn't yet seen a handheld induction heater. I used to use a large industrial one for creating thermal gradients to assemble things - one of my all-time favorite machines. Go for it!
 
jonheld said:
Title says it all.
My heat shield bolt holes have mostly rotted away and the shields are rattling nicely against the manifold, causing me untold amounts of woe and strife.
I purchased brand new shiny ones (17167-66040; 17168-66020) along with new hardware (91651-B0814), had them blasted and ceramic coated, and they're ready for install.

Now I know that as soon as I put any real amount of torque on those bolt heads, those bitches will snap right off like dry pasta.
I was looking at an induction heater as I'd rather not get into the engine bay with a MAP gas torch for obvious reasons.


If anyone has any thoughts on the matter, I'm all ears.
Click to expand...
I've looked at those before and been tempted, but it fits in that zone where it's just a little more than I'm likely to spend entirely on a whim, but it'll take long enough to get to my house that I usually just figure something else out first.

My usual technique for something I don't want to torch:
  1. Soak with Kroil (substitute your own favorite flavor).
  2. Smack fastener head with brass drift - you're just trying to break any structure in the corrosion, and maybe create some voids that the penetrating oil can find their way into
  3. Another shot of kroil for good measure
  4. Let it soak for an hour or so
  5. Smack with drift again
  6. Try it
  7. Either; back to 1, it's loose, or it's broken
I don't break many, but it happens. Depending on how brittle and corroded they are, I occasionally just resign myself to it, snap them all off with the big rattle gun and devote my time to drilling them out.
 
Removed the original heatshields recently and thought for sure at least one of those bolts would snap or round. To my surprise they all came off fairly easily just with a short wrench, no treatment at all. Bolt heads were rusty but threads were clean. I think moisture drying up quickly on the manifold plus that area not being that exposed to the elements prevents them from seizing up too badly.
 
Apologies about hijacking the post…I tried what Marvel posted and got most of them out. One bolt head snapped. I don’t have the confidence to drill it out and would rather let a pro do it. How much does a service like this cost nowadays?
 
Tachycardic said:
Apologies about hijacking the post…I tried what Marvel posted and got most of them out. One bolt head snapped. I don’t have the confidence to drill it out and would rather let a pro do it. How much does a service like this cost nowadays?
Click to expand...

Cost will depend on the shop and the time it takes. These are short bolts and if accessible I think you should try to drill it out. Start with a small bit and work up in size. Just go slow and careful.
 
jonheld said:
Title says it all.
My heat shield bolt holes have mostly rotted away and the shields are rattling nicely against the manifold, causing me untold amounts of woe and strife.
I purchased brand new shiny ones (17167-66040; 17168-66020) along with new hardware (91651-B0814), had them blasted and ceramic coated, and they're ready for install.

Now I know that as soon as I put any real amount of torque on those bolt heads, those bitches will snap right off like dry pasta.
I was looking at an induction heater as I'd rather not get into the engine bay with a MAP gas torch for obvious reasons.


If anyone has any thoughts on the matter, I'm all ears.
Click to expand...
I have that very heater. I love it. It has removed bolts I knew would break as soon as I put an impact on them.

Now I heat them until just red, and put the impact on them. I haven't broken one yet.

...of course, I don't live in New Jersey. Just sayin'.
 
I just pulled them off mine yesterday, just a long 3/8 handle ratchet and a little constant pressure and they came right lose. But I suggest you hit em with little heat 1st
 
Would it help to drive the LandCruiser on the freeway a bit to get the manifold good and hot, first? I'm thinking the exhaust manifold holes will expand more than the bolts would, but we don't have a lot of rust around here.
 
Batameez said:
I got one of those induction tools are work to remove seized stuff at work, I dig it. That said, those bolts somehow came off without issue on my NJ boat anchor.
Click to expand...
Yea, the induction tool should be here tomorrow, so I'll take a run at the bolts on the first clear day.
 
Irish Reiver said:
@jonheld my guess is that you are just looking for a lame excuse to buy a new gadget for the garage. 😀
Click to expand...
yeahso.gif
 
There is a video of Austin St Onge on YouTube using an induction heater on his cruiser to heat bolts and it seems to work very well. I almost pulled the trigger on one myself but held off until I have a reason to buy one with a stuck bolt.
 
So to follow up on this nonsense, I pulled off the old heat shields today.
There was no way those bolts were coming out without serious persuasion.
PB Blaster, heat, PB blaster, heat, some pounding, lots of swearing, and they finally let go. I spent a good amount of time cleaning out the threads in the manifold. Had to run a tap in one of them, but they're all clear now. Lots of high temperature anti-seize was used.
That hand held inductive heater certainly helped the cause.

1763492555676.webp

1763492602682.webp


Yes, I know it's out of focus. It's cold out.
1763492933112.webp
 
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