I thought the install for my new hood struts looked easy enough for even ME to handle.
It went ok until I closed the hood and saw that the passenger side of the hood was raised too much. The part I installed at the fender that uses the fender bolt was turned in, and the line for the windshield fluid was between the strut and the hood, so I loosened the bolt, moved the line, grabbed the part and turned it into the fender while tightening the 10mm bolt. I wanted to make sure it was tight and in doing so turned too hard and the head of the bolt snapped clean off!
What is my next move, after saying "F%^$&#!!!"?
Is there a way I can get the broken off part out?
Will they have to drill it?
What kind of place would know how to do this?
This is why I need a Mustang shop to do all the work on my Pony! I know how to drive 'em, not fix 'em!
Thanks!

 

Orion...

Yes.. but it is easy...

First.. go to your local Hardware store... ask the tool guy where the "Easy Outs" are. They look a little like funnel shaped Drill bits.

then... drill a small hole in the middle of the broken stud piece... stick the easy out into the hole... and crank it out.

 

Thanks Prof!
Asked somebody at work and he said "ease out" which is probably the same thing. Always nice to have info confirrmed by an expert!
I do have to say I was surprised at how light the hood is! It could almost fall shut on my hand and I wouldn't mind!

 

If there is anything to grab onto use some vise grips and remove it. If not then you'll need to drill and use an Easy-Out, get them at sears or any tool store. Good luck.

 

What kind of hood struts did you get that used the fender bolts?

 

+1 on the Easy-out. Done that a lot while building weapons skids out here on the ship.

 

Once you get the bolt out. Use a torque wrench to put in the replacement. There's a specific setting for the size bolt. Look in a manual if available or here's some more info:

Torque Values

Torque wrenches will click and give a little when you reached the dialed setting. Treat this tool like delicate china though. If you drop it or bang it, you can mess the calibration up and have to pay to have it re-calibrated. For critical applications like aircraft, they should be calibrated periodically.

 

once upon a time about a 100 years ago i had a bolt head come off on my 73 dodge motor home ,i crazy glued a small bolt to the broken and it backed right out, if the break is not smooth try "gib weld" to glue a bolt to it good luck brianj tncruiser

 

I've got some time to try these good suggestions today.
It's the hood struts from MRT for about $120 w/ shipping. They were going great until the passenger side. The bracket also hits the plastic behind it so I hope that wasn't what the problem was. Just need to reroute the washer fluid hose.

 

couple suggestions-

1) if ya gotta drill a hole for easyout anyhow- try and find a lefthand drill- running reverse rotation on your drill, often it will grab enough from drilling pressure to snag the bolt and spin it right out.

2) if ya gotta drill a hole up thru that bolt, odds are if it grabs at breakthru it might pull the drill in and you might poke a hole in whatevers under it...put some kind of sleeve over the drill for just in case it grabs, so it cannot go too deep. a old piece of fuel hose or something like that might do it- just watch chips dont get inside and scratch the heck out of things...a setscrew collar is best drill stop, hobby shops sell them for model airplane wheels...some hardware store have them too...handy to keep assorted sizes in the toolbox.