You know its a bad day
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
You know its a bad day
when you finally get the heads on, torque'd down, rockers on and adjusted. Then bolt up the exhaust manifolds only to find out that the plugs are still in for the crossover tube on a LT1. Got one out... but the other no luck. The notch for the 1/4 ratchet is stripped and you can't get a pair of vise grips on it to remove it.... ugghh! Time for a beer and to remove one of the heads back off.
Then gonna have to buy another head gasket... bad day. But Shllt happens!
Then gonna have to buy another head gasket... bad day. But Shllt happens!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
Just wondering since the gasket has not gone thru a heat cycle....could you spray it with Permatex copper spray?? Although it is almost the same cost as a new gasket.....a little less.
https://jet.com/product/detail/aa58a...FUhlfgodyroKWg
https://jet.com/product/detail/aa58a...FUhlfgodyroKWg
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,700
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
when you finally get the heads on, torque'd down, rockers on and adjusted. Then bolt up the exhaust manifolds only to find out that the plugs are still in for the crossover tube on a LT1. Got one out... but the other no luck. The notch for the 1/4 ratchet is stripped and you can't get a pair of vise grips on it to remove it.... ugghh! Time for a beer and to remove one of the heads back off.
Then gonna have to buy another head gasket... bad day. But Shllt happens!
Then gonna have to buy another head gasket... bad day. But Shllt happens!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
Not sure about the copper spray gasket. I'd hate to bolt it all up and find in the long run it leaks.. may just sucked up the new gasket.
JB weld. cool idea. Not sure if I can get the extention to push in all the way but if I can I'll go for it. I've got a few exta 1/4 x 3/8 I could try that since its shorter and a 3/8 ratchet would certainly give me more leverage
JB weld. cool idea. Not sure if I can get the extention to push in all the way but if I can I'll go for it. I've got a few exta 1/4 x 3/8 I could try that since its shorter and a 3/8 ratchet would certainly give me more leverage
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
A 1/4 ratchet will no longer go in, so I took a 3/8 nut and cleaned it with Acetone along with the end of the plug. Put it together with JB and I'll give it a good 24 hours to cure... then well see
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2007
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
Unbelievable
All I can say is WOW... What did this guy do weld this plug in?.. holy cow
It may be time to just take it to a machinist to remove this for me. I can't take a chance and ruin those threads, especially since I don't even know the thread size.
Just bought these two... reman not new
It may be time to just take it to a machinist to remove this for me. I can't take a chance and ruin those threads, especially since I don't even know the thread size.
Just bought these two... reman not new
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
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From: Park City Utah
I completely 
Excellent advice and that is where I would go w/it, at this point.
OR weld a "pile" onto it, slide the nut onto/over the pile, then weld the nut to the pile...screw it right on out.
Excellent advice and that is where I would go w/it, at this point.OR weld a "pile" onto it, slide the nut onto/over the pile, then weld the nut to the pile...screw it right on out.
Last edited by Tom400CFI; Oct 31, 2015 at 03:59 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
...again. It's not THAT hard; your weld won't bond w/the aluminum b/c it's aluminum, but you don't want to make a mess, either. If you DO want to venture into this yourself, practice your welding on some pieces of flat stock, first. 
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2007
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From what I have seen if it is the 80 amp one or whatever that one should work. Clean it up good and try it a few times, it's little money mostly time until you get good penetration.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,386
Likes: 534
Just did a quick image check of that LTx crossover tube. Yeah that does suck but you're like the rest of us, it doesn't stop us permanently. If you've got it off the car and having that much trouble still, I'd probably let a machinist give it a try too. I've only trusted those extractor bits on broken studs that are close in diameter to the bit.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 4
From: Clifton Park NY
Nope I would never practice on that head. However this would be a good time to get some flat stock and learn.
Meanwhile I've got a couple of ideas I can try today, and we will see what happens
Meanwhile I've got a couple of ideas I can try today, and we will see what happens