Okay, so many of you may already know, I had to remove my stock exhaust manifold from my 200 cube and in the process broke almost all of the bolt heads off. I have taken some time off from the project for many reasons and am now jumping back in. I have no way to get the bolts out other than tapping them, but I was thinking about it this morning on my way to work. maybe I can heat the tops of the bolts, clamp them with the vice grips and bend them enough that I have something to tap/grip with the vice or channel locks to hold and twist. Than i can heat the bottom of the bolt and try tightening and loosening like others have suggested.

Now, my question is: Is this a good idea or should I just drill and tap them. I don't wanna mess up the head. I found one on ebay a while back, but some guy who buys things there just to sell them for more bought it and I wasn't paying 100 bux more than he did to get it from him.

 

It may be easier, cheaper and better in the long run just to get a new/used head IMO.

 

the best i have found on a rebuilt head is 300. i would perfer not to go used. the head is fine, just need a way to get the bolts out.

 

You have the general idea. Heat them after you have soaked them to try to suck some of the thread loosener into the threads. Then if you can get hold of the bolt with some vice grips, turn them in and out until you can see new threads, then soak them again and follow the same procedure. However, if they are rusted shut and you can get no movement from them, then cut them off and drill and tap. Then use the heli coils.

 

Channel lock makes a stud removing plier. It looks like a regular channel lock other than the jaws are short and curved. A little heat and a pair of those pliers I bet you get them out ok. Lowes sells them last time I was on that aisle and every mechanic needs a pair.

 

yeah, i tried the whold vise grip thing, didn't work. it would just spin around the bolt cutting down the thread. that's why i figured bending the bolts would do the trick.

 

soak it good with deep creep, then heat it some while tapping it witha hammer or hammer and punch, the vibrations help break the rust bond with the hole threads. If you have enough bolt sticking out use a small pipe wrench, tapping the end of the bolt as you pull on it. This has worked for me many times.

 

Vise grips will not grip like the pliers I described. The harder you try to turn the stud the tighter they grip.

 

Thanks for the tip Jim. Next time I am in Sears I will grab a pair.

 

you're not talking about robo-grip are you? i know the harder you turn with those the tighter it seems to hold.