Hooray, New Problem!!! Why'd I buy this

Guess what I broke another bolt, again!! Alright in all seriousness the broken bolt is from the timing cover and I have been informed that this is a common problem for Mavericks even in their own time! I was replacing the water pump when a bolt I was loosening up snapped in half! I have tried everything except for welding a nut to the screw and trying to extract it again! I love this car but I am at the point were it frustrates me too much and I want to sell it but won't! I need advise for extracting the bolt so please let me know what I can do!

PS yes I have tried the screw extractors, penetrating oil, and brake cleaner!

 

Well you are the master at broken bolts. You might try using a blow dryer and heat the housing up a little bit. All is not lost as you can drill it out more and if you get into the threads you could always run a tap through it and put a slightly larger bolt in it.

Thats an easy one hang in there

 

Heat up the aluminum alittle around bolt should come out. Even if you have to drill it out it shouldn't be too bad,bolts do that alot when you mix steel and aluminum.

 

Please dont try taking the heads off. LOL

 

Use a small torch to heat it up the area (not bolt) then get a really good pair of vice grips or add a nut and remove. Not too bad. When you are removing the bolts take it slow and use lots of PB blaster... It will save time in the long run. If the bolt ever feels stuck just add heat.

 

So I tried heating it up and it didn't work, if anything it made it worse! As much as I want to drill it out I don't know if I should. Drilling it out is fine by me but the second I drill into the new water pump my warranty is gone and if it doesn't work well then it was a waste of money especially since I was told 2 days after I ordered it that the pump was on back order! Anymore ideas?!

 

Weld on a nut and have at it.

 

I would weld it but the welder I have is cheap and I'm still figuring it out!

 

Here's what I would do.

1. Heat aluminum with propane/Mapp gas.
2. Use a product called crc freeze it on bolt
3. Leave easy out in place to avoid crushing hollowed out bolt with vice grips. Be sure to clamp the vice grips onto bolt as hard as you possibly can. Even use a channel lock to help cinch the vice grip even tighter if you need the extra help.

Heat aluminum.. freeze the bolt.. unscrew. You may have to go back and forth counterclockwise and then clockwise several times to loosen a bit. Only counterclockwise and you may gall and smear the aluminum into the bolt threads. If it starts getting too tight again.. reheat, refreeze.. rinse and repeat.

 

You can try the heat again and then put a candle to the threads. The wax will melt down through the threads and might do the trick

 

Never heard that one before! Neat idea.

 

Old school tricks still work well enough. Works by capillary action.

Still better to step into the 21st century if you have a local parts store though. Heat.. spray.. heat.. Spray.. same capillary action.

 

Makes sense how it works, my dad has taught me numerous tricks and tips that seem weird but work great.

 

Have heard about it but never had an occassion to test it out

 

So here is a good/ bad news report!

Good news: I don't have to worry about the bolt anymore!

Bad news: The timing cover cracked due to the heat expanding the metal and subtle bangs of a hammer trying to get the a screw extractor into the hole!

This was all my fault, I had my father come and help and the second we attempt to continue using other methods we noticed a crack. It is small but matters for the engine and how it cools down! I don't think I should do any major work on the engine for future sake, right?!

Other than that anyone know where I can order one?!