head problems!!

[bigugly43]

hey everyone ive got a stupid problem. a valve cover bolt sheared off inside my head completely flush with the head. i proceeded to attempt at extracting it but failed. so then i decided to just drill the snapped bolt out and then re-tap the hole. plan was to start with a small drill bit and work my way up until the bolt was out. i was onto my second drill and sure enough, the drill bit snaps off inside the bolt i was trying to drill out. can anyone help me with this? anything i can do to fix this or am i s.o.l? thanks for any help everyone

 

[80' 427]

hey everyone ive got a stupid problem. a valve cover bolt sheared off inside my head completely flush with the head. i proceeded to attempt at extracting it but failed. so then i decided to just drill the snapped bolt out and then re-tap the hole. plan was to start with a small drill bit and work my way up until the bolt was out. i was onto my second drill and sure enough, the drill bit snaps off inside the bolt i was trying to drill out. can anyone help me with this? anything i can do to fix this or am i s.o.l? thanks for any help everyone

Did you try a reverse drill bit?

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

weld a bolt to the top of the sheared one...

I don't know if this will work in your situation, but it's saved me a few times.

 

[bigugly43]

i havnt tried welding a bolt to it yet. that could possibly still work. i think its too late to try and reverse bit because theres already a drill bit snapped off inside the bolt i was trying to drill out

 

[80' 427]

i havnt tried welding a bolt to it yet. that could possibly still work. i think its too late to try and reverse bit because theres already a drill bit snapped off inside the bolt i was trying to drill out

I would still try it. What are they $2? It may turn the other bit back out.

 

[Fordum]

Depending on the size of the drill bit, you might try this
Clean the area real well so you can see what you are doing. And get lots of light on it.
Take a small, sharp, hard punch.
Wearing safety glasses because there may be high speed pieces of sharp steel flying, use the punch on the broken end of the bit.

Try to back it up slightly.If you get it to move, you should be able to get it out with a sharp pick of some kind. Its only held in there by the last little bite it did.

Or, you may be able to break it up and get out the pieces. The better the bit, the more likely it will shatter and come out.

I bought some cheap bits one time, and had some bend sideways when I put pressure on them.

 

[Stomis]

Depending on the size of the drill bit, you might try this
Clean the area real well so you can see what you are doing. And get lots of light on it.
Take a small, sharp, hard punch.
Wearing safety glasses because there may be high speed pieces of sharp steel flying, use the punch on the broken end of the bit.

Try to back it up slightly.If you get it to move, you should be able to get it out with a sharp pick of some kind. Its only held in there by the last little bite it did.

Or, you may be able to break it up and get out the pieces. The better the bit, the more likely it will shatter and come out.

I bought some cheap bits one time, and had some bend sideways when I put pressure on them.

Before you do that try jetting air from your compressor into the hole. Ive ejected a couple broken bits before like that.

 

[bigugly43]

thank you guys for the suggestions a lot!! ill try them sunday and let you all know!! also will be hacking up my fenders a bit. ill post pics. thanks again!

 

[cjjones]

When you get the drill bit out, put a nut on the top of broken bolt and weld the nut to the existing bolt, should be able to just turn out after. even if it is broke in the head a little you should be able to get a good weld on it to turn.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

What kind of valve cover?

If it's a stiffer aftermarket one there's a good chance you could get by without one of the bolts, there isn't anything structural there, it just needs to seal.

 

[StuGutz]

When you get the drill bit out, put a nut on the top of broken bolt and weld the nut to the existing bolt, should be able to just turn out after. even if it is broke in the head a little you should be able to get a good weld on it to turn.

exactly what has worked for me in the past. even worked when bolt was broken below surface. small tack at a time to build it up , then weld a nut to it.