HELP: bad torx bolt on intake
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 304
From: MOORESVILLE NC
HELP: bad torx bolt on intake
Hey guys,
I was trying to remove the TPI intake on my 88 and the torx bolt on the intake on the driverside next to the fire wall busted one of the tangs on the bolt, after penetration oil was allowed to set. It is a T-40. I tried 3 different T-40's and all just spin inside the torx head. All other torx head bolts came loose. Location is bad for vice grips. Should I heat the bolt with a propane torch and drive a T-50 into to get it out or is there another option?
I was trying to remove the TPI intake on my 88 and the torx bolt on the intake on the driverside next to the fire wall busted one of the tangs on the bolt, after penetration oil was allowed to set. It is a T-40. I tried 3 different T-40's and all just spin inside the torx head. All other torx head bolts came loose. Location is bad for vice grips. Should I heat the bolt with a propane torch and drive a T-50 into to get it out or is there another option?
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 55
Likes: 1
Hey guys,
I was trying to remove the TPI intake on my 88 and the torx bolt on the intake on the driverside next to the fire wall busted one of the tangs on the bolt, after penetration oil was allowed to set. It is a T-40. I tried 3 different T-40's and all just spin inside the torx head. All other torx head bolts came loose. Location is bad for vice grips. Should I heat the bolt with a propane torch and drive a T-50 into to get it out or is there another option?
I was trying to remove the TPI intake on my 88 and the torx bolt on the intake on the driverside next to the fire wall busted one of the tangs on the bolt, after penetration oil was allowed to set. It is a T-40. I tried 3 different T-40's and all just spin inside the torx head. All other torx head bolts came loose. Location is bad for vice grips. Should I heat the bolt with a propane torch and drive a T-50 into to get it out or is there another option?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 304
From: MOORESVILLE NC
Either way, ice-heat or pounding, I'm not pleased with the way my top end enging rebuild is going. Thanks for you help, If I have to buy a small grinder, that dang bolt is coming out and all head torx bolts are history. I'll let the Cylinder Head rebuild guys deal with a sawed off stud.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
cut the head off, thin cold chisel, remove the runner, unscrew the stud, if you
re careful and cut into the head in the correct direction
'righty tighty, lefty loosy", you may get lucky and loosen the bolt. I replaced mine with allens.
re careful and cut into the head in the correct direction
'righty tighty, lefty loosy", you may get lucky and loosen the bolt. I replaced mine with allens.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 304
From: MOORESVILLE NC
Oldalsakaman you sure get around. Good option if the T-50/pounding doesn't work. The Heads are going to be rebuilt. I'm just trying to take them off. I'll leave removing the torx stud up to the rebuild guys. I'm sure I'll end up paying for it anyway. At least I want have to do it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
if it gets down to it , you can cut that runner mounting hole with the same cold chisel, then either get another runner ' they're cheap' or weld that one, if you're thinking bout going to aftermarket runners anyhow, nows a good time.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 304
From: MOORESVILLE NC
steven mack,
I'll try your way first before I start poundind a T-50 into a T-40 socket head. If all else fails I'll get sore arms pounding the torx head off with a chisel. Perfect way to spead a day of paid vaction.
I'll try your way first before I start poundind a T-50 into a T-40 socket head. If all else fails I'll get sore arms pounding the torx head off with a chisel. Perfect way to spead a day of paid vaction.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
Motorcycle cases were all assembled with phillips screws many yrs back...and everyone of them stripped when we tried to disassemble...
the trick is to use the chisle and cut a notch in the torx head. Maybe even 2...like a flat blade screw driver were to be used. Then get a good angle on the chisle or a punch and tap it into the notch and turn the screw that way from the side by tapping it around.. You have to find a good angle to hit so its unscrewing and not cutting...but it works.
the trick is to use the chisle and cut a notch in the torx head. Maybe even 2...like a flat blade screw driver were to be used. Then get a good angle on the chisle or a punch and tap it into the notch and turn the screw that way from the side by tapping it around.. You have to find a good angle to hit so its unscrewing and not cutting...but it works.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 304
From: MOORESVILLE NC
Thanks for all the solutions. The reamed out torx bolt is on the intake driverside end flange at the whindsheild wiper motor. I'll try what I can before I chisel. If I make a big mistake with the chisel and crack the intake it's weakest point, a corner, it will cost me a new $600 intake which will result in another $500 for big tube runners. No more used parts for me.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Probably wouldn't work but might be worth a try.
JBWeld a torx bit in the hole. Let setup over night.
Ice intake around the area. Try it again.
JBWeld a torx bit in the hole. Let setup over night.
Ice intake around the area. Try it again.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,974
Likes: 261
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,889
Likes: 2
From: Castro Valley Calif.
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 952
Likes: 0
From: Morgantown,WV USA
HELP: bad torx bolt on intake Reply to Thread
Dan
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 243
here is a dirt cheap example of the tool I am talking about:
http://www.harborfreight.com/impact-...ase-37530.html
I actually have this one from HarborFreight. The driver itself works great and I've used it quite a bit on brake rotors that have phillips head screws securing them to the hub. The bits themselves are somewhat cheap, I've chipped them, but I also worked them hard. Definetly got my moneys worth.
This worked for me on a cylinder head. I think it was a Saturn, can't remember.
Other option, if you have the capability, is to weld something to the bolt head. I've welded a nut to a stripped head before. The heat you put into it also really frees it up too. Obviously, if the engine is opened up you dont want to do this as you might gets sparks and spatter in bad places!
Last edited by jmgtp; Feb 17, 2012 at 10:13 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
http://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...13294923073821
find a buddy that works on bikes, he should have one of these in ie tool box
find a buddy that works on bikes, he should have one of these in ie tool box
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 304
From: MOORESVILLE NC
Here's the update and it's not good. Used my dremal to cut across the bolt. heated the bolt up with a propane torch and proceded to hit it with a large cold chisel on the side of the bolt that should have started to turn it loose. No go. Now my Dremal is burned up. Headed to Lowes to buy a new one and a couple of metal cutting blades. This is the bolt from Hell.