HELP! Rounded head bolt
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Shelby Twp MI
HELP! Rounded head bolt
While removing my heads, I couldn't break the rear drivers side ARP bolt loose, so I used an impact wrench. Now I've rounded the edges. The six point 13mm 1/2 socket won't stay on when I try to break it loose with a breaker bar. Any ideas or help will be appreciated!!!
Thanks,
KJ
Thanks,
KJ
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
Originally Posted by deadwood
If possible to get to (and you have the tools) weld a nut on top of the bolt. Just take the right precautions if you do.
Good luck
Trey
Good luck
Trey
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Originally Posted by JACKAL0PE
Oh, I'd be REAL careful with that one. That's aluminum you're welding on top of. Might get the bolt out and find out you've warped the heads.
ARP bolts are really hard. How did it happen?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Sometimes you can pound on a SAE socket on a metric nut and a metric socket on an SAE nut that are the next size down! I have done this quite a few time with success!
Let us know how you get it off!
Let us know how you get it off!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Shelby Twp MI
Originally Posted by Patches
ARP bolts are really hard. How did it happen?
KJ
Last edited by UAWDES1; Dec 10, 2004 at 09:30 AM.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Alberta
I had the same problem on a mitsubishi aluminum head. A pair of 10 inch channel locks worked great. Just make sure the teeth on the channel locks are still good.
If there isn't enough room for a pair of channel locks, an "easy out" extractor also works well. Just makesure to be gentle with the easy out, if you break the easy out inside the bolt, it will be almost impossible to get it out.
Good luck.
If there isn't enough room for a pair of channel locks, an "easy out" extractor also works well. Just makesure to be gentle with the easy out, if you break the easy out inside the bolt, it will be almost impossible to get it out.
Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,059
Likes: 12
From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
Originally Posted by allegro
Get one of those "ease out" things that Craftsman and others sell.
They attach to a drill and work very well.
Still....BE CAREFUL
They attach to a drill and work very well.
Still....BE CAREFUL
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Shelby Twp MI
Originally Posted by madeouttaglass
Be REAL careful! If you break that out you are in even deeper trouble. I strongly suggest that you find a reverse drill bit to drill the hole for the easy out. I've done this before and the drill turning left actually loosened the bolt/stud. No other work needed. Good luck and please post how you made out.
KJ
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: st. louis mo
Originally Posted by JACKAL0PE
Oh, I'd be REAL careful with that one. That's aluminum you're welding on top of. Might get the bolt out and find out you've warped the heads.
Trey
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
From: Bethalto Illinois
[QUOTE=UAWDES1]While removing my heads, I couldn't break the rear drivers side ARP bolt loose. 
The Sears sockets for rounded heads, as previously mentioned, are a REAL help, they are sockets with teeth that are tapered for biting into bolts, (nuts) and bite as they are turned. (Removal Only).
They bite harder as they turn due to the taper of the socket (pressure needed).
I haven't tried them on tempered bolts (nuts) but they work on rounded heads, (I drive the next lower size on).
I also have welded a socket to a bad bolt, (not aluminum heads) and for me it worked.
good luck.
Norm K.
The Sears sockets for rounded heads, as previously mentioned, are a REAL help, they are sockets with teeth that are tapered for biting into bolts, (nuts) and bite as they are turned. (Removal Only).
They bite harder as they turn due to the taper of the socket (pressure needed).
I haven't tried them on tempered bolts (nuts) but they work on rounded heads, (I drive the next lower size on).
I also have welded a socket to a bad bolt, (not aluminum heads) and for me it worked.
good luck.
Norm K.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,396
Likes: 2
From: North Manchester Indiana
ok,, first, I would put all the other nuts back on and torque down,, this might lessen the pressure on the one bolt,,,as for welding a socket,,,most sockets are hard and dont weld easy,gets real brittle and breaks easy,,,same for welding on a hard nut,, I would try the sears bolt remover if possible,,,you might try snap on or mac/cornwell for a solution,,,,
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,613
Likes: 0
From: Winston Salem NC
Originally Posted by wrustywrench
ok,, first, I would put all the other nuts back on and torque down,, this might lessen the pressure on the one bolt,,,as for welding a socket,,,most sockets are hard and dont weld easy,gets real brittle and breaks easy,,,same for welding on a hard nut,, I would try the sears bolt remover if possible,,,you might try snap on or mac/cornwell for a solution,,,,
Suggest you use ARP lube on the bolts.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,383
Likes: 208
how to get it out
first thing is buy the set of tools from sears that removes rounded head bolts..then heat the old head bolt cherry red...then using the tool from sears remove it ...u must use heat..also for future info when removing bolts that have been heated and cooled a number of times u must heat them first..one other word of advise ( always loosen a bolt by hand before using an impact wrench!!!more ppl get in trouble with an impact ask mechanics at garages!!!! hope this helps
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Shelby Twp MI
Originally Posted by kutlow
one other word of advise ( always loosen a bolt by hand before using an impact wrench!!!more ppl get in trouble with an impact ask mechanics at garages!!!! hope this helps
Thanks,
KJ
Going to try and get to it today, but you have to have the right frame of mind and right now my mind says beer and a football game versus possible mental anguish.
