Quote:
Originally Posted by cg318ti I don't have anything sticking out. So I think I'm gonna have to use an easy-out. |
I had the same problem, trying to remove the thermostat housing bolts (this might be a design fault ?),
but fortunately the bolts sheared flush with the thermostat housing instead of the cylinder head.
To prevent bolt seizure, I used WD40 (which wasn't that helpful), and some other penetrating oil.
The top two bolts had the heads sheared off when I tried to remove them. Fortunately, the bottom two bolts came out a little more easily, undamaged.
With the bottom bolts removed, and no bolt head to hold the thermostat back on the top 2 bolts, I managed slide the thermostat housing off.
This left 2 headless bolts stuck in the Cylinder head.
I bought some Easy Outs (at least that's what I think they were), removed the radiator to make room for the drill, and and was just about to use them.
However, from what I read about Easy Outs [on this forum and elsewhere], I realised there was quite a possibility of them breaking, thus possibly causing more work, hence this wasn't such a good idea.
Instead, I read some articles on bolt removal.
It was repeatedly suggested that Thermal shock was very effective in loosening seized bolts, so I bought a blowtorch (
butane/propane mixture), and set to work on the seized bolts.
I would heat the bolts and the cylinder head area around the bolt (slowly moving the blowtorch) for about 10/15 seconds, then immediately spray cool water on the heated area. This procees was repeated about 10 times on both bolts.
Following this thermal loosening, I tightened 2 M6 nuts BACK TO BACK, about half way down the bolt. This has the effect of trying to put a head back onto the bolt, for the purpose of unfastening the bolt. Turning a 10mm ring spanner anticlockwise,
on the inner nut only (closest to the Cylinder head), the bolt slowly began to move.
TIPS: - It is important that ONLY the inner nut is turned anticlockwise. The outer nut must not be turned anticlockwise, since it is used to lock the inner nut to the bolt and prevent it from loosening.
- The ring spanner will have to be fixed and unfixed to the inner nut, when the inner nut is being turned due to the very limited turning angle.
- I tried using a 10mm ratchet spanner, but this couldn't grip the innner nut.
- Removing the Water Pump pulley, just below the thermostat housing (4 of 10mm bolts), provided a greater spanner turning angle.
If you need borrow or buy tools, borrowing another car is really helpful.
Without doubt, the most important thing is to be patient and to try the least destructive methods first. Regards,
MB7