Header bolt broke off in head?

**usafshelley** · 04-22-2010, 11:30 AM

I just put LT headers on my car and i noticed when i pulled the factory stuff off, there were only 5 bolts on the driver side while the passenger side had 6.
And at first i thought maybe it was made that way, until i put the headers on and there was a slight exhaust leak around cylinder 1 but when i try to put a bolt in it, it wont go in far enough to thread.

if it is a broke off header bolt how can i get it out without pulling off the head and taking it to a machine shop?

**basballny2** · 04-22-2010, 11:53 AM

cant you see the bolt? is it sticking out from the head or is it in the head....if theres a small peice of the bolt sticking out theres options

**usafshelley** · 04-23-2010, 08:40 AM

i can not see the bolt at all.

**lsgunner28** · 04-23-2010, 09:02 AM

should be able to get a small right angle drill in there, i used an air powered on, took forever though. my back two were busted off, got one drilled and tapped but the passenger side broke my extractor off in the hole and i couldnt drill though it so i made a bridging bracket.

**karpetcm** · 04-23-2010, 10:22 AM

If you spray it down with WD-40 or PB blaster a few times and let it soak will it still have issues with breaking bolts. I plan on spraying some WD-40 a few times and letting it soak overnight before taking it to the exhaust shop for the header install. Also lsgunner28, whats a bridging bracket ?

**lsgunner28** · 04-24-2010, 05:14 AM

I took the torch to a piece of 5/16 steel scrap i had here to bridge from the 6th cylinder header bolt to the bolt hole that is back an 1 1/2" from the last header bolt on the passenger side so that it pinched the header back to the block. ill see if i can get a picture..

**usafshelley** · 04-25-2010, 02:11 AM

it was broke off when i bought my car but didnt leak with the factory exhaust manifoldS. yea get a pic posted of the "bridge" you made

**TerribleTed** · 04-26-2010, 02:20 PM

WOW,,,Funny,,,
I had to yank my drivers side cylinder head off,,and even though its all stock,,I had the 6-th bolt busted off too in the cylidner head,,,the one closest to the fire wall,,,
I left it,,,i had no leak before,,and have none now,,,

I wonder if the factory just over torqued them,,or a common vibration broke them,,

**lsgunner28** · 04-26-2010, 03:43 PM

i cant get a good pic with everything in the way.. sorry man.

**usafshelley** · 04-27-2010, 03:17 AM

well i was debating if i wanted to pull the head off or pull the whole motor and trans out to fix it and do a little work to the motor and trans while it was out. But i figured i would try option 3. i went to advance auto parts and bought some stuff in a tube that is used to patch or seal up header cracks and holes. So i loosened the header and pulled away from the motor while i squeezed the metal patch liquid behind the cylinder 1 exhaust port. Let it drive for about 36 hours and doesnt leak at all. been driving it for 2 days now and now problems yet. so needless to say it was alot cheaper(10 bucks) than pull motor out or apart!

**natews6** · 04-27-2010, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by usafshelley

well i was debating if i wanted to pull the head off or pull the whole motor and trans out to fix it and do a little work to the motor and trans while it was out. But i figured i would try option 3. i went to advance auto parts and bought some stuff in a tube that is used to patch or seal up header cracks and holes. So i loosened the header and pulled away from the motor while i squeezed the metal patch liquid behind the cylinder 1 exhaust port. Let it drive for about 36 hours and doesnt leak at all. been driving it for 2 days now and now problems yet. so needless to say it was alot cheaper(10 bucks) than pull motor out or apart!

Good thinkin. That stuff should hold up pretty well too.