Topic: MURPHY STRIKES AGAIN
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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Seems like i can`t take this beast for a cruise without some consequence,
It was a beautiful Thursday morning and i had the opportunity to take the vette for a long ride, Took the tops off and headed out on my 100 mile journey. Roaring down the highway, which i don`t get to do much, I decided to open her up a bit. Cruising at 85mph i felt i was going slow , as ford focus`s and toyota corrolas would wail past me. But , i didn`t fret i was enjoying the warm wind in my face and hair .The car ran like a dream. Made to my appointment and headed back for the 100 mile journey home! Once again the same perfect scenario as the trip out, until i reache town about 30 miles out from my house, The highway turned into a parking lot, the skies clouded over with a black cover and i have no wipers. Well the rain held off , just a sprinkle, it took me an hour to go 10 miles. Any way, sitting in traffic i start to hear a squeal, fan belt i say. Please not the water pump belt. Then I remember the BG trip where the alternator went and I replkaced it. Fan on the new Alt was bigger and when i replaced it with the original chromie the belt was stretched. Needless to say i`m a nervous wreck hoping i make it home befor the baterry runs out and I have to call the hook. Made it home , drank a beer , opened the hood , and there was Murphy.Rat Ba*&%&d got me again. The alt . was almost lying on the wheel well, i noticed the bracket had moved. upon further investigation I noticed the bolt holding the bracket sheared off and broke in the head.
. I tried to drill into it and use an easy out, didn`t work, broke the easy out into the drill bolt stuck in the head. I guess now i have to drill the whole thing out and and re-tap. Unless anyone has a better idea!. Since i have a full house for Thanksgiving , i have a 4 day weekend and no vette to drive
. I tried to drill into it and use an easy out, didn`t work, broke the easy out into the drill bolt stuck in the head. I guess now i have to drill the whole thing out and and re-tap. Unless anyone has a better idea!. Since i have a full house for Thanksgiving , i have a 4 day weekend and no vette to drivethanks for letting me vent.
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I quit using easy outs unless I am quite ready to throw the whole thing out as garbage. The only thing I've found Easyouts good for is supreme frustration. Maybe it's just me, maybe I'm just a bull in a china closet, but I will invariably break the easyout in the bolt therby screwing myself royally. My experience has been that the easyout is much harder than the drill I have to remove the broken piece of easyout making it very difficult for me to remove the broken piece. Thus now my problem is compounded by 10 fold.
Sorry for your troubles, but good luck!!
i have the same experiecnce with easy outs. hardly ever works for me.
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
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#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Dang, Bob...when it rains, it pours, eh?
You might try this to get the ease-out removed. Depends on how large a hole you drilled to start with...
If there is room around the ease-out, drill several small holes as close as you can to it, without actually hitting it. This will sometimes loosen the ease-out enough to spin/work it out. If not, Just drill more smaller holes closer together. Eventually, it will come out. Just be sure to drill the holes all the way thru the bolt.
hth
You might try this to get the ease-out removed. Depends on how large a hole you drilled to start with...
If there is room around the ease-out, drill several small holes as close as you can to it, without actually hitting it. This will sometimes loosen the ease-out enough to spin/work it out. If not, Just drill more smaller holes closer together. Eventually, it will come out. Just be sure to drill the holes all the way thru the bolt.
hth
Joel Adams
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The key to the easy-out is to use the largest one possible.
If a 1/2" bolt is broken, don't use a 1/4" easy out. use a 3/8".
Start with a small drill and work up to the larger drill size.
Be patient and go slow.
And you might try using heat if the application allows.
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In the past I have had some luck with removing broken bolts by using a small pounch and a hammer. If that did not work, I try to grind a slot in the bolt with a cut-off wheel and try a screw driver. When that does not work I try to weld a small bolt to the broken off bolt, the heat from welding usually helps to get the stuck bolt break free.
Good Luck
Brian - NCM Lifetime Member
73 coupe L48, Flat-top pistons, Performer RPM Heads, Crane Cam and roller rockers, Holley 650 vac sec. Performer intake,
3.55 gear BTO 200-4R trans,
Leather seats, Seatbelt Plus 3point seatbelts, Pioneer CD player
Magnaflow Exhuast System
Dewitt radiator and dual electric fans
Borgeson Steering box
THANKS FOR THE ADVICE GUYS. I WILL TACKLE IT AGAIN ON FRIDAY . I`LL LET YOU KNOW HOW IT GOES
Lifetime MemberGreensburg, IN - USA
Joined: 9/24/2003
Posts: 5189
Vette(s): Previous: 1984 Coupe, 1988 Maroon Coupe, 1989 Coupe, 2001 Roadster Present: 1967 Stingray Roadster, 1976 Stingray Coupe, 1989 Roadster..
It seems like you and Murphy are getting pretty chummy.... I'll bet that car wishes it was setting in my garage Back Home Again In Indiana....GOOD LUCK BOB!
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Yelm, WA - USA
Joined: 7/12/2007
Posts: 356
Vette(s): 1979 L82 4 speed Scat 383 crank 190 cc Procomp Aluminum Heads 202 160 stainless valves GM Powder metal rods Speedpro H860CP Hypereutectic pistons 280 cam hydralic HEI Pro comp 1.6 roller rockers Mighty Demon 750 Sanderson CC1AP Hedders.
[QUOTE=Redwingvette]In the past I have had some luck with removing broken bolts by using a small pounch and a hammer. If that did not work, I try to grind a slot in the bolt with a cut-off wheel and try a screw driver. When that does not work I try to weld a small bolt to the broken off bolt, the heat from welding usually helps to get the stuck bolt break free.
Good Luck
[/QUOTE]
He nailed it, those are the best ways, easy outs suck I've rarely gotten one to work. I've gotten pretty good at drilling down the center of bolts without cutting the threads, the more you can drill out the better chance you have of extracting it. You might give it another shot but it's gonna be a PITA with the head still in the car. Might try a drill bit on a dremel may be a little easier. Good Luck!
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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