Rounded off exhaust manifold bolts

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77scottsdale1

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I hate rust!!! 3 of my bolts for my exhaust manifold rounded off, I have no clue how to get them out. I tried vise grips, a smaller socket... any other ideas?
 

Honky Kong jr

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If you have some old 12 point sockets, hammer whatever size fits over the bolt head and apply pressure while turning. You did soak them down with PB Blaster or some other quality rust penetrant and used a six point socket first?
No? Me neither....
 

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Honky Kong jr

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Do these actually work? I got a set of the opposites of these, the ones that you drill a hole and run them in... The ones you use when you break the bolt off. They absolutely suck.
Yes they work
 

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I had a stripped seat bolt on the 79 camaro bucket got, and I used my craftsman set like linked above, pulled it right off.

I bought them to try and a broke tbi bolts on my 88 they weren't small enough to fit.

Now I've got like 5 brok eones in the olds 403 heads sadly several of those broke off flush with the head, I figure no way will an e-z out or whatever you wanna call them extractors would work. I think I'll end up drilling them out and heli-coil or maybe on some the way th eolds head is made you can get a nut on the backside.

sbc stuff aint gonna happen.

I was told wd-40 rust release beats pb blaster and all others, can't confirm.

heat works great if you got an oxy/ace type torch propane will put some heat on it but not get it glowing red like a nice cutting torch.

You can also weld a nut on if you have a welder. That also helps because it will get said stud red hot as well.


I myself plan to try some wd-40 rust release stuff, not the OG wd-40 and also may give those sockets a try never thought of trying them on the heads to be honest.

Also they make a stud extractor, that works off a 1/2 drive ratchet, breaker bar etc. I have one but not mines brok eon the end for some reason.
 

Honky Kong jr

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I had a stripped seat bolt on the 79 camaro bucket got, and I used my craftsman set like linked above, pulled it right off.

I bought them to try and a broke tbi bolts on my 88 they weren't small enough to fit.

Now I've got like 5 brok eones in the olds 403 heads sadly several of those broke off flush with the head, I figure no way will an e-z out or whatever you wanna call them extractors would work. I think I'll end up drilling them out and heli-coil or maybe on some the way th eolds head is made you can get a nut on the backside.

sbc stuff aint gonna happen.

I was told wd-40 rust release beats pb blaster and all others, can't confirm.

heat works great if you got an oxy/ace type torch propane will put some heat on it but not get it glowing red like a nice cutting torch.

You can also weld a nut on if you have a welder. That also helps because it will get said stud red hot as well.


I myself plan to try some wd-40 rust release stuff, not the OG wd-40 and also may give those sockets a try never thought of trying them on the heads to be honest.

Also they make a stud extractor, that works off a 1/2 drive ratchet, breaker bar etc. I have one but not mines brok eon the end for some reason.
If your getting Nina have the heads redone have the machine shop get them out.
 

77scottsdale1

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If you have some old 12 point sockets, hammer whatever size fits over the bolt head and apply pressure while turning. You did soak them down with PB Blaster or some other quality rust penetrant and used a six point socket first?
No? Me neither....
Yea I used some pb and a six point socket.
 

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Ok those are nice tools and pick up a set for me too please, but we haven't dealt with rustedstuckandfucked exhaust manifold yet...
Deal with this like a real Man-Welder would..
Got a cutting torch? Blow those buggered heads off. Get on with your day.
No torch? Hee hee zip disk party and 'disappear' those goofed heads.
Then deal with getting the studs out of the block. That will be easy compared to trying to spin off rusted garbage.
Replace with headers and quality hardware.
 

rt66paul

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Hammer on a 6 point socket after using the PB Blaster and tapping with a hammer. A 6 point should have more purchase, even if it is the wrong size. Using a 12 point on a rounded bolt or nut is going to make it more pounded. There are sockets and wrenches that work like an EZ Out, but the WD 40 or whatever is your friend.
 

TnSnapp

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Aerokroil. Period. Best stuff I have ever used. It is also good for the gun that hangs in my rack in the backglass.
 
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