Valve cover bolt broken

[afa]

Driver's side valve cover, the last bolt toward the rear on the bottom side near the steering column broke off. I got maybe a 1/4 inch of thread sticking out. Vice grips haven't worked since the spot is extremely tight.

All the other bolts came off extremely easy and it had to be the one in the most tight spot that breaks off!

Anyone have any ideas how to get the screw out?

01 LC.

 

[jpd motorsports]

can you weld a nut to top of it the ratchet it out. or drill the center and do a reverse threaded bit. might check autozone or oreillys they used to have a bolt extraction tool for rent for those broken bolts

 

[MastiffDad14]

I'm not looking at the area your speaking of but is there any way you can cut a slot in the bolt maybe with a Dremel or similar tool and use a flathead to extract it.

 

[afa]

can you weld a nut to top of it the ratchet it out. or drill the center and do a reverse threaded bit. might check autozone or oreillys they used to have a bolt extraction tool for rent for those broken bolts

Don't have a welder unfortunately. Towards the back end, its very hard to get anything back there! Couldn't even fit my drill or my right angle drill back there at all!

I'm not looking at the area your speaking of but is there any way you can cut a slot in the bolt maybe with a Dremel or similar tool and use a flathead to extract it.

Unfortunately I tried that and the stud kept chipping off. It would not come loose even after soaking it with wd-40 and PB. I ended up grinding it down with my dremel but could not get the drill back there.

I ended up installing the new valve cover gasket with 1 missing bolt. I did apply some extra FIPG towards the back to see if it keeps it from leaking.

How screwed do you think I am?

 

[Cman]

Had the same thing happen to me! Those valve cover bolts are trouble. Easy work with a good screw extractor kit and a electric drill, but mine broke in the front. Good luck!

 

[AMGAndrew]

Considering I decided to "snug" up my valve covers (no leaks, just figured I'd torque em for the hell of it) and found every single bolt only finger tight, I'd say you're probably ok.

 

[Rolocado]

Considering I decided to "snug" up my valve covers (no leaks, just figured I'd torque em for the hell of it) and found every single bolt only finger tight, I'd say you're probably ok.

I did the same and couldn’t believe how loose mine were. What is the official torque spec for those?