Bolt snapped off inside the head

UEMAILIT2ME

MEMBER
1996 CHEVROLET S-10
120,000 MILES

While putting the valve cover back on a new rebuilt engine to be installed in my older S10 a bolt snapped off. The bolt head snapped off so there is little left above the surface of the head so welding a nut to it is out. Should I take the head to a machine shop to extract the bolt or is there another way?

Sunday, September 8th, 2013 AT 5:04 AM

2 Replies

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

You can still weld a nut to it, place a larger not over the stud and just tack the top of the broken bolt to the inside bof the nut, it will not be tight, that is if it was not crossed threaded to start with.

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Sunday, September 8th, 2013 AT 5:28 AM

MADMIKE1735

MECHANIC
951 POSTS

If you do not have access to a welder, you can center punch a hole in the middle of the bolt. Then start drilling. I suggest coating a 1/8 drill bit with grease, and keeping a vacuum handy. Also, place oil soaked rags around the bolt. Reason for the oil being any debris missed by the vacuum will stick to the rag. Once you drill down about a 1/4 inch or so, you should be able to easily remove with an EZ out (bolt extractor) found at your local parts store.

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Friday, September 13th, 2013 AT 8:24 PM