Broken valve cover bolts

Hey y’all

so I was having a small oil leak from the valve covers, and since I recently got the truck I decided to change the valve cover gaskets and everything that goes with them. Well, taking the bolts out, two broke, same one on each side. Any tips on getting them out? Or thoughts on how to move forward? Thanks for any help

 

@bmf4069 had this same issue I think. Tagging him for help.

 

Ouch, that's in a tough spot too. Good thing is they shouldn't have much torque on them say an ez out will make quick work of them.

 

Thanks guys, I’ll get an ez out kit. I don’t think I’d be able to get a drill in there, y’all think I can turn it by hand?

 

I used an easy out on 2 of my broken ones, and the 2 others that wouldn't move, I drilled and tapped. It's been 9 months since I did my VCG and I have no leaks....

 

I had that issue on an N52 in a BMW once. I applied PB blaster, let it soak overnight, then use needle nose pliers to apply pressure and twist and it worked for me. EZ out by hand might be difficult.

 

Vise grips would work too if you can catch a thread.

 

I did try soaking in pb and trying needle nose and channel locks I couldn’t get it to budge and snapped some of the exposed bolt. I think the po cross threaded it when putting it in. The other bolts were barely in tighter then finger tight

 

Drill a hole through a piece of metal you can hold onto, then use that piece of metal as a guide so the drillbit doesnt walk.

if an ez out needs a pilot dimple*

dont let the bit grab the guide and cut your fingers off.

 

Jam the easy out into a 9/32 socket and use a 1/4" drive ratchet.... easy peazy. I'm pretty sure I have a few pictures of my extraction/tapping in my rebuild thread.

**Post #193 has photos of how I removed the broken studs.

 

Genius. Thanks for the tip

 

Thank y’all for the help and tips, I’ll get an ez out today after work and give that a try, will report back when I get them out

 

Also might help to have a punch. Hammering against the threads goes a long way.

 

Make sure to use a center punch BEFORE drilling holes. You'll need all the guidance you can muster, mister...

 

That conventional oil makes the inside of the engine look like Trumps face. Crazy.

 

Left hand drill bit, if you need to get a bit extension, get a few bits in case you break some.

 

Just curious @randomuser72 , did you plug the coils back in so as not to forget which cylinder they were attached to or pull them out that way ?

 

Alright so Amazon had just about everything I think I’ll need, should be here tomorrow or the next day.

@BubbaW yes I only pulled them out for the picture, to get the cover off but I will number them when trying to get the bolts out.

Thanks again to everyone for the help, I appreciate it

 

Good luck on bolts, patience and let bit do the work !

 

Don't forget to keep a vacuum running near the drill bit sucking shavings as you go, in other words, find an assistant.

 

Yes, Absolutely! I had my shop vac hose laying adjacent to the drill work area while I was drilling. It's a must do.

 

Use tape and plastic to cover the whole engine cover area, can’t have any shaving inside those heads

 

Best is use center punch and left hand drill bits, it will auto unscrew itself when you almost hit the bottom.

 

Turbo sockets are what I use. A 6mm turbo socket would have that sucker right out.


Assuming it didn’t break flush. If it broke flush, easy out

 

I did my valve cover gaskets 2 weeks ago and had the same bolt break off on the passenger side. I sprayed with PB Blaster, let sit over night and used vise-grips to try and remove but wound up breaking off the remaining part of the bolt even with the head. I used a right angle drill to drill out the bolt starting with a drill punch, then progressing with drill bits until removed. Then used an M-10 size tap and die to retread the hole. Still no leaks so far!

 

Thank y’all for the tips, I wouldn’t have thought about the vacuum or coving it with tape and plastic until it was too late.
I’ll grab some turbo sockets for the side that isn’t broken flush
Thanks for the tap size, I’ll order one now.

I feel a little better not being the only one who’s broken these bolts haha