Valve Cover bolts (LT1)
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,089
Likes: 12
From: Port Saint Lucie, FL
Valve Cover bolts (LT1) UPDATED
So I have oil comming out of the drivers side, furthest back valve cover bolt. I decide to back it out and see what is going on. When I do I hear a breaking sound and the bolt just spins. Needless to say, the bolt broke at the threads in the head. Am I totaly screwed? Where do I get another bolt, the rubber bushing ( my problem, it was all cracked), and any ideas on getting the rest of the bolt out without pulling the head off? :mad
UPDATE
Well I decided to just take the car to a mechanic. I found a guy not more than 5 miles away that has a Corvette shop that has been around since 1974. Seemed like a great guy. Anyway, the broken bolt was the least of my problems. After all is done, here is my list:
Broken Valve cover bolt
Main intake seal leaking oil in back of motor
rear brakes
Front shocks leaking
VSS sensor leaking tranny fluid
serpintine (sp?) belt is way beyond cracking
since intake will be off replacing both valve cover gaskets and checking bolts
Replacing misc hoses and checking vacume lines.
I spoke with him this afternoon and the bolt was out-- If everything goes well, I should have her back Thursday.
:cheers:
[Modified by C4Cvette, 6:59 PM 1/27/2004]
UPDATE
Well I decided to just take the car to a mechanic. I found a guy not more than 5 miles away that has a Corvette shop that has been around since 1974. Seemed like a great guy. Anyway, the broken bolt was the least of my problems. After all is done, here is my list:
Broken Valve cover bolt
Main intake seal leaking oil in back of motor
rear brakes
Front shocks leaking
VSS sensor leaking tranny fluid
serpintine (sp?) belt is way beyond cracking
since intake will be off replacing both valve cover gaskets and checking bolts
Replacing misc hoses and checking vacume lines.
I spoke with him this afternoon and the bolt was out-- If everything goes well, I should have her back Thursday.
:cheers:
[Modified by C4Cvette, 6:59 PM 1/27/2004]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: Inland Empire CA
Re: Valve Cover bolts (C4Cvette)
You don't have to pull the head. The valve cover bolts are actually very short. They are less than an inch long. From there they screw into threaded tubes that THEN screw into the head. I'd probably see if you could yank the cover valve cover and check out things to see if it snapped at the tube, or the heads. I say the tube since those bolts aren't supposed to be that tight. I think it would be a bear to try to repair threads with it on the head.
Where would you get a new bolt and rubber seal? From a local GM dealer. I don't know the part number... let me go check it out.
Where would you get a new bolt and rubber seal? From a local GM dealer. I don't know the part number... let me go check it out.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,089
Likes: 12
From: Port Saint Lucie, FL
Re: Valve Cover bolts (C4Cvette)
If you could find a part number, that would be great. I did check and it did break at the head. I looked and found my easyout set and bits. The more I think about it, I think it also can be fixed without pulling the head. Once the valve cover is off, it is pretty accessable. If I cant get it out with the extractor set, It shouldnt be bad to drill it and tap it.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,337
Likes: 0
From: Brighton, MI
Re: Valve Cover bolts (C4Cvette)
I would drill it out oversized and install a threaded insert. I think eazy-outs are hard to use on bolts that small. When a bolt snaps coming out of aluminum, it usually means the threads are galled and it will be very hard to thread out on it's own. Make sure to catch all of your drill shavings if you keep the head on.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: Inland Empire CA
Re: Valve Cover bolts (C4Cvette)
Okay, I went and looked through my microfiche CD. P/N for the bolt is 10108675 and is $0.84 cents at GM Part direct for 10 of 'em. That sounds almost too cheap. The stud is p/n 10108674 and is $2.81 for 1. And... for some reason they don't list that seal in the part diagram. That's odd; I hope they don't expect you to buy new valve covers. I know they pop out, I've done it before... :confused:
-EDIT-
Good News! I found it on another diagram, the grommet... not seal :lol: is p/n 10108626 and cost $2.19 from GMPD. I knew it had to be in there. It would be stupid not to sell that separately... good luck! :thumbs:
[Modified by WickedC4, 11:29 PM 1/26/2004]
-EDIT-
Good News! I found it on another diagram, the grommet... not seal :lol: is p/n 10108626 and cost $2.19 from GMPD. I knew it had to be in there. It would be stupid not to sell that separately... good luck! :thumbs:
[Modified by WickedC4, 11:29 PM 1/26/2004]
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 27,897
Likes: 9
From: I have no tolerence for liberals and fools, but sometimes i repeat myself
CI 3-5-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08
Re: Valve Cover bolts (WickedC4)
Okay, I went and looked through my microfiche CD. P/N for the bolt is 10108675 and is $0.84 cents at GM Part direct for 10 of 'em. That sounds almost too cheap. The stud is p/n 10108674 and is $2.81 for 1. And... for some reason they don't list that seal in the part diagram. That's odd; I hope they don't expect you to buy new valve covers. I know they pop out, I've done it before... :confused:
-EDIT-
Good News! I found it on another diagram, the grommet... not seal :lol: is p/n 10108626 and cost $2.19 from GMPD. I knew it had to be in there. It would be stupid not to sell that separately... good luck! :thumbs:
[Modified by WickedC4, 11:29 PM 1/26/2004]
-EDIT-
Good News! I found it on another diagram, the grommet... not seal :lol: is p/n 10108626 and cost $2.19 from GMPD. I knew it had to be in there. It would be stupid not to sell that separately... good luck! :thumbs:
[Modified by WickedC4, 11:29 PM 1/26/2004]
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Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 17,103
Likes: 39
From: stop the fun suckers
Re: Valve Cover bolts (vetteman9368)
funny you ask this quesiton.. I did the EXACT same thing not more than two weeks ago... it was a quick easy fix..
Mine broke at the threads to the head (like yours) which is also the smallest part of the stud.. (tube) anyways, I used a tiny drill and drilled a small pilot hole in the center of the bolt (after removing the adjacent rocker arms of course) then went to a slightly bigger bit and drilled the hole out the size it needed to get my eazy-out extractor in.. and used my easy out with my cordless screwdriver.. readjusted the valves/rockers and went on my merry way.. BTW: I got the rubber o-ring (grommits) from the dealer.. they were very cheap.. same with the tube (valve cover bolt stem).
Mine broke at the threads to the head (like yours) which is also the smallest part of the stud.. (tube) anyways, I used a tiny drill and drilled a small pilot hole in the center of the bolt (after removing the adjacent rocker arms of course) then went to a slightly bigger bit and drilled the hole out the size it needed to get my eazy-out extractor in.. and used my easy out with my cordless screwdriver.. readjusted the valves/rockers and went on my merry way.. BTW: I got the rubber o-ring (grommits) from the dealer.. they were very cheap.. same with the tube (valve cover bolt stem).
