North American Turbocoupe Organization

Full Version: Stuck Head Bolt
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So I'm removing the cylinder head so a friend of mine can port and polish it for me. I'm down to the last bolt in the center on the passenger side and low and behold it won't budge. I've tried soaking it in penetrating oil, torching the bolt, torching the block and even whacking the head with a brass drift but still no luck even with a 24 in breaker bar.
Has anyone else been in this scenario and had any success stories to tell which might give me ideas or inspiration of some kind? Thanks.
My ideas are lightly and REPEATEDLY tap on the bolt head to set up a series of vibrations that may break the corrosion loose. An old mechanics trick that many swear by is to actually try slightly tightening the bolt, then try loosening it.
I'll have to try tightening it some tonight. First I need to buy a more sturdy breaker bar though
Have you tried a good high torque air impact wrench?
I unfortunately do not own one or even an air compressor. I do have an 120v one but its pretty weak.
put the rest of the head bolts back in, tighten them to 40 ft lbs. remove the stuck one. remove the rest of the head bolts.

-J0N
^^^ That's VERY smart!

Also: have you considered a battery-powered impact wrench? Ryobi (for example) makes one that is powerful enough to remove lug nuts (although I'd still use a 4-way for that, waste of battery power).

Home Depot offers sets during the Holiday season that include a smaller impact driver and the above-mentioned heavy duty impact wrench for about $120. This includes TWO batteries and a much-better-than-entry-level battery charger and conditioner (this last kit sells for $69 just by itself). Well worth it.
is the exhaust manifold still bolted to the head? sounds like you have 2 bolts intersecting and locking the head bolt in