Little Help Please

scruffboy · 09-29-2006, 10:27 PM

I was replacing my thermostat when the bolt snapped off in the top hole. I put down a bead of gasket former and put a NEW bolt into the bottom hole. (Yeesh, this is startin to sound like a sex story). Anyway, no problems so far. It really broke off bad, no, ain't no way I can get a set of lock plyers on it, there just ain't enough of anything to grab. I have a set of "easyouts" with some small ones that will fit, but I'm afraid of this job, cuz this is the block I'm bolting onto, right? Ain't no way I want to screw this up. Should I take it to a shop? Like I said, no problems yet, but I don't like ridin down the road with just one bolt holding my thermostat housing on. I know the fan shroud will have to come off, and that may give enough room, especially if they have one of those right angle drills. So what do you guys (and gals) think about my dilemna here. Any suggestions on what route to take? Thanks.

Scruffboy

tone loc · 09-30-2006, 05:38 AM

broken bolts suck. it happened to me twice and i tryed doing it myself both times and both times i ended up taking it to the shop.

scruffboy · 09-30-2006, 09:15 PM

At least I have someone to be miserable with me.

Scruffboy

jeepkaiser65 · 09-30-2006, 10:49 PM

do you have access to like a torch to heat it up, youd be better off taking it too a shop if you dont feel comfortable fixing it yourself.

superpage1987 · 10-01-2006, 02:37 AM

I guess i have to say if you can get it to a shop i would let them do it if you dont feel that you can do it with out fucking something up(better save than sorry). Good luck with it thow

tone loc · 10-01-2006, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scruffboy

At least I have someone to be miserable with me.

Scruffboy

Yeah i guess but when i tried doing it myself i fucked up the threads and everything.(dont have very steady hands)

Supra2NR · 10-01-2006, 04:42 AM

you can drill the bolt that was left in the hole
you jus gotta be really careful not to drill the metal around the hole

jus pick a small bit first, make sure you got a pilot hole so when you drill it,
the bit wont be dancing around

jus go slow, and eventually the bolt will be thinned out and you can jus get it off with sum pliers or anything that can grab it

suprra_girl · 10-01-2006, 04:59 AM

and if all goes terribly wrong.... replace the rear thermostat housing (2 nuts, 1 bolt iirc) and bolt another one on

scruffboy · 10-01-2006, 12:55 PM

Unfortunately, like Tone Loc, I don't exactly have the hands of a surgeon (maybe experimented a little too much in my youth). Anyway, Supra Girl mentions the back end of the thermostat housing. I thought the thermo housing bolted right onto the block. Am I that stupid? (don't answer, and see above for reasons) If it bolts onto something I can take off, I'll just replace that part. I have to run out and check on this. That would save me a world of hurt. Thanks Supra Girl. Much obliged.

Scruffboy

j3pz · 10-01-2006, 04:23 PM

try this, take off the thermo housing, completely out of the car. once done, you will have as much room as needed to attempt to drill out the bolt. and if you f*ck up, you can just replace it. this way would prolly be cheaper than taking it to a shop but if you mess up and cant wait for a replacement part you may want to take it a shop...

09-29-2006, 10:27 PM	#1
scruffboy walbro fp Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Kearny, New Jersey, USA Posts: 427	Little Help Please I was replacing my thermostat when the bolt snapped off in the top hole. I put down a bead of gasket former and put a NEW bolt into the bottom hole. (Yeesh, this is startin to sound like a sex story). Anyway, no problems so far. It really broke off bad, no, ain't no way I can get a set of lock plyers on it, there just ain't enough of anything to grab. I have a set of "easyouts" with some small ones that will fit, but I'm afraid of this job, cuz this is the block I'm bolting onto, right? Ain't no way I want to screw this up. Should I take it to a shop? Like I said, no problems yet, but I don't like ridin down the road with just one bolt holding my thermostat housing on. I know the fan shroud will have to come off, and that may give enough room, especially if they have one of those right angle drills. So what do you guys (and gals) think about my dilemna here. Any suggestions on what route to take? Thanks. Scruffboy

09-30-2006, 09:15 PM	#3
scruffboy walbro fp Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Kearny, New Jersey, USA Posts: 427	Thanks Tone Loc At least I have someone to be miserable with me. Scruffboy

10-01-2006, 02:37 AM	#5
superpage1987 Intake Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: lee, ME Posts: 44	I guess i have to say if you can get it to a shop i would let them do it if you dont feel that you can do it with out fucking something up(better save than sorry). Good luck with it thow __________________ The voices in my head tell me "Someone is going to die."

10-01-2006, 04:42 AM	#7
Supra2NR 1000whp postwhore Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Chi-Town Posts: 1,643	you can drill the bolt that was left in the hole you jus gotta be really careful not to drill the metal around the hole jus pick a small bit first, make sure you got a pilot hole so when you drill it, the bit wont be dancing around jus go slow, and eventually the bolt will be thinned out and you can jus get it off with sum pliers or anything that can grab it __________________ http://www.myspace.com/supra_2nr Into Bikes now,, apparently the supra couldnt kill me, so my zx6 might lol

10-01-2006, 04:59 AM	#8
suprra_girl 7M POWAH! ;) Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: New Zealand Posts: 2,312	and if all goes terribly wrong.... replace the rear thermostat housing (2 nuts, 1 bolt iirc) and bolt another one on __________________ Please use the forum to ask your questions as they will get replied to much faster than pming me Pics of my build. "Good girls are just bad girls that don't get caught" Do a diagnostic first!

09-30-2006, 05:38 AM	#2
tone loc 20psi boost Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 706	broken bolts suck. it happened to me twice and i tryed doing it myself both times and both times i ended up taking it to the shop.

09-30-2006, 10:49 PM	#4
jeepkaiser65 3" Exhaust Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: san antonio Tx Posts: 68	do you have access to like a torch to heat it up, youd be better off taking it too a shop if you dont feel comfortable fixing it yourself.

10-01-2006, 12:55 PM	#9
scruffboy walbro fp Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Kearny, New Jersey, USA Posts: 427	Broken Bolt Unfortunately, like Tone Loc, I don't exactly have the hands of a surgeon (maybe experimented a little too much in my youth). Anyway, Supra Girl mentions the back end of the thermostat housing. I thought the thermo housing bolted right onto the block. Am I that stupid? (don't answer, and see above for reasons) If it bolts onto something I can take off, I'll just replace that part. I have to run out and check on this. That would save me a world of hurt. Thanks Supra Girl. Much obliged. Scruffboy

10-01-2006, 04:23 PM	#10
j3pz 500whp yet? Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mechanicsville, MD, US of A, 20659 Posts: 1,060	try this, take off the thermo housing, completely out of the car. once done, you will have as much room as needed to attempt to drill out the bolt. and if you fck up, you can just replace it. this way would prolly be cheaper than taking it to a shop but if you mess up and cant wait for a replacement part you may want to take it a shop... __________________ 88 N/A w/ 5spd - stock - not running,* bhg 87 turbo/targa w/ 5spd- fidanza light weight flywheel, new oem slave cylinder, apexi air filter, no ac and no heat