A huge setback on the car

[Ron Vogel]

Ugh, I put in the radiator; that had it's own problems...then the atl bracket/belt pulleys.

Front manifold, crossover, rear manifold. When I was tightening on the heat shield to the front manifold one of the studs busted off in the head...this has never happened to me in many years of wrenching on these motors. I pulled off the front mannie, and it's way in there. Not enough room to get a drill in there, so the radiator and all the crap up front needs to come out again. I thought I'd have it running by tomorrow, and now probably not. I'm guessing it will take a bout 4 hours just to drill it out without damaging anything.

I've spent the last several weeks cleaning and refurbishing parts just to run into this!

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[bluzohh6]

can you get a hand wrench on there with one of those bit that pull the broken screws out?

 

[Ron Vogel]

It's a 1/4" into the head; so no. If I get lucky I can drill it down the center ans easy-out it, but I don't think it will work. I will probably oversie the hole and use a bigger bolt.

The studs go on either end of each manifold, and the bolts for all the other hold downs. The studs are in there tight also. They have a hex end, and I broke sockets trying to get them out before. Either way, it's going to be a real bitch to fix.

 

[BLOWN GP]

damn that sucks the car is lookin good tho.

 

[PANDA]

Yes the car will be restored flawlessly when Ron is done. Good luck.

 

[Biff]

that sucks!

I saw a commercial on tv for some new-fangled Sears Craftsman easy-out-type tool that looks like it might be just what you need for this application.

I can't remember the friggin name though!
Check it out, Ron

 

[Ron Vogel]

I drilled it out, and the easy out wouldn't budge it. I went ahead and drilled out the bolt completely. I was retapping the hole when the fucking tap broke off in the head! I was very careful not to bend it, and I used plenty of cutting fluid. The last thing I wanted to happen was breaking the tap off, since they are so hard it's impossible to drill them out. I'm taking a little break right now, but the only chance I have is to break the tap up with a hammer to get it out. I can grab about 1/4" of thread with a new stud, and I may just have to settle if the tap won't come out.

I expected the worst, and got what I expected. I'll probably be dicking with it for another 2 hours minimum.

 

[Biff]

that shit makes me wanna scream!

not to be captain obvious here, but did ya try heating it up a bit first?
It is a cold mofo outside -- garage or not

gimme a call if ya need a spare pair of hands

 

[Ron Vogel]

I got a stud in it, it seems to have a good grab. I just hate all the uncertainty though, since I won't know if it's going to work until everything is assembled and running. My last resort is weld the fucker to the head...but I'm trying to avoid that.

 

[DanJ]

wow, that's a bitch. Did you break off one of end studs that don't usually come out, or one of the studs that screw into the head? either way that would be a huge PITA. Look at it this way, atleast it wasn't in the back.

 

[Ron Vogel]

If it gives me anymore trouble I'm moving the fire closer to the car!!!

 

[DanJ]

I wish i had a garage fire, i actually debated it last night but wasn't sure where the smoke would go. Instead im in under armor and long underwear freezing my ass off.

 

[Ron Vogel]

I pour acetone on the floor and light it on fire. It warms up the garage quick, and has no fumes. No mesureable C02 either. I do it about once an hour, and with my lights, is enough to keep it in the mid 40's in the garage. One winter I pulled the BBQ grill in, and that worked too!

 

[DanJ]

with the sun setting im thinking about the grill.

 

[EmersonHart13]

I love having garage heat...

 

[DanJ]

The real kicker is that i'm doing this in my parents garage... who have had a gas powered heater brand new in box sitting in the corner now for 2 years. It just needs to be installed and we'd have heat.

 

[Ron Vogel]

with the sun setting im thinking about the grill.

I have a carbon monoxide detector, and did not see any problem with it running fyi. I could get the detector to measure if I started the car for a sec though.

 

[DanJ]

im almost done with the rear head. The springs for cylinder 6 are a bitch to get at though.