Broken header/head bolt.

**98maro** · 01-12-2011, 09:49 PM

Hey guys...
Today I too my car to the shop to install the electric cutout, so I ask the mechanic how much he would chrage me to install the LTs.
So he was taking a look at the car when it was on the lift. And we noticed the bolt on the passenger side manifold wasn't there. Is the one close to the fire wall.
Could that be a problem? Car runs good. Sometimes I can hear exhaust leak. Idk if cuz of that.
How could fix this problem?

And 2nd problem. The oil pan gasket is leaking oil

Thanks for the help

**PFM** · 01-13-2011, 09:01 AM

They make extractors for broken bolts. My set came from Sears. If the bolts broken off to where you can't get ahold of it then your ready for some fun. You basically drill a hole in the center of your bolt then use the extractor tool to back it out. Use plenty of whatever kind of penetrating oil spray you can pickup at your local auto parts store cause if you break the extractor off in the bolt your screwed.

**cammed goat** · 01-13-2011, 09:36 AM

What PFM said. If that happens, be prepared to remove that head for more drilling.

**Y2KArcticSS** · 01-13-2011, 09:50 AM

Are you sure it's broken and didn't just back out? I didn't see in your post where you found it to be broken, only missing. Sorry if I read incorrectly. I have had several back out on me, even with the stage 8's I bought...although I have aftermarket headers, and from what I understand yours is stock?

**0rion** · 01-13-2011, 12:23 PM

actually the oil pan gasket is a bigger headache than the bolt.....are you sure it's the oil pan and not the rear main? Where was the oil at?

**98maro** · 01-13-2011, 12:27 PM

Damnso I'm sure Is a pain in the butt...
The bolt is not there. The mechanic checked it to make sure. It can't really tell if it's broken or missing. But the guy I bought it from said nothing was done to the engine before.
It has the stock manifold.

Can It jst get broken by it self,?
Most of the bolts are rusty

**0rion** · 01-13-2011, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by 98maro

Damnso I'm sure Is a pain in the butt...
The bolt is not there. The mechanic checked it to make sure. It can't really tell if it's broken or missing. But the guy I bought it from said nothing was done to the engine before.
It has the stock manifold.

Can It jst get broken by it self,?
Most of the bolts are rusty

it probably just backed out and fell out

**pajeff02** · 01-13-2011, 12:31 PM

Probe the bolt hole with a paperclip or something and see how deep it is.

**Y2KArcticSS** · 01-13-2011, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by 0rion

actually the oil pan gasket is a bigger headache than the bolt.....are you sure it's the oil pan and not the rear main? Where was the oil at?

^^^^what he said. I would worry about the header bolt later. Oil leaks need to be taken care of stat

Sent from my iPhone

**Cutlass** · 01-13-2011, 01:27 PM

Yes these exhaust manifold bolts break by themselves ALL the time. We do them somewhat frequently on Escalades and Hummer H2s. In fact I just did 3 on one Escalade 2 days ago. 2 of the bolts had a little bit of the remaining bolt stick out after the manifold was removed. That makes it a little easier to grab on to and back it out. The other one was broke off even with the head. I had one of the body shop guys come down and weld a nut to the bolt so we could back it out. It took 6 tries but finally the nut stuck to the bolt good enough to back it out.

**98maro** · 01-13-2011, 01:33 PM

I noticed the oil leak when the car was on the lift. It doesn't leak alot. But I can see it there.
The pan bolts have oil. And I can see more leak between the trans and the engine. Is an m6
It seems to be hard to replace it. The mechanic said it was the gasket.
Car has 124xxx miles.

I'll try and stick something on the hole and see how deep it goes in.
It doesn't have enough room

is gonna take me a while.
That seems hard to do too.

**pajeff02** · 01-13-2011, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by 98maro

I noticed the oil leak when the car was on the lift. It doesn't leak alot. But I can see it there.
The pan bolts have oil. And I can see more leak between the trans and the engine. Is an m6
It seems to be hard to replace it. The mechanic said it was the gasket.
Car has 124xxx miles.

I'll try and stick something on the hole and see how deep it goes in.
It doesn't have enough room

is gonna take me a while.
That seems hard to do too.

Pull the coil packs and you'll have a lot more working room from the top. Other option is from underneath -- that's how I get at the back passenger side plug. The broken/missing bolt may also be more easily accessible from underneath as well.

**98maro** · 01-14-2011, 12:37 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Pull the coil packs and you'll have a lot more working room from the top. Other option is from underneath -- that's how I get at the back passenger side plug. The broken/missing bolt may also be more easily accessible from underneath as well.

Thanks jeff.
I would do that as soon as I have a chance.
I'm planning on doin heads and LTs.
What could happen if I keep driving the car with the missing bolt?

**pajeff02** · 01-14-2011, 03:14 AM

Originally Posted by 98maro

Thanks jeff.
I would do that as soon as I have a chance.
I'm planning on doin heads and LTs.
What could happen if I keep driving the car with the missing bolt?

You will probably have an exhaust leak that will sound like a ticking noise. If it gets real bad, outside air can be drawn into the exhaust and that will mess with your O2 sensor on that bank. Unfortunately, fixing it would probably require removal of the head. I just don't think there is enough room back there to drill it. Even if you could get an angle drill up in there, no way to keep the drill bit going centered and straight.

**98maro** · 01-14-2011, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

You will probably have an exhaust leak that will sound like a ticking noise. If it gets real bad, outside air can be drawn into the exhaust and that will mess with your O2 sensor on that bank. Unfortunately, fixing it would probably require removal of the head. I just don't think there is enough room back there to drill it. Even if you could get an angle drill up in there, no way to keep the drill bit going centered and straight.

i has an exhaust leak,,now that i pay atention to it.. it does make a noise... there is no room to work on it... ill just wait till i get new heads and headers