Hi,

I am trying to removal my serpentine brackets from the old 305 onto the new 350...I am having a problem and need help. There are those round bolts with the "star" indentation in the center. Well someone stripped one on each bracket and I cannot get them off of the block/heads. Any suggestions? They are in real tight areas and I cant use vice grips, etc to remove them.

I don't want to spend the money and buy another set of used brackets if I can help it.

Thanks! mike

 

The "star" you are referring to is a bolt for a torx bit...I suggest you pick up a set of bits that will fit on your 3/8" ratchet, because there are a few of them in there. Yours are stripped out because someone probably tried to remove them with hex wrenches.

You can try what I did, and get a dremel, and cut in a straight line across the center and get them out with a flathead with a wide head..but you said it was in a tight area so that might not work. They sell kits at Sears that will help you out.

One of them, here: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00952157000 drills through the damaged head and lets you extract it. Just go to sears.com and go to the "tools" section and type "damaged" into the search box...that will pull some results for you.

Good luck man, this is one of the most frustrating things you can run into, I know, I've been there. We all have. Just don't get too frusterated and take a break if need be, lol. Hope you end up working something out.

_Clark

 

Thanks Clark,

Torx head!! I couldnt remember the name. I have a set of those and that is what I have been trying to use...someone rounded it out already so even they do not work. Yeah I so ticked off because its only one bolt on each bracket....I have been building the new block and restoring the engine bay so there is plenty to do....I will give it another shot tonight.. if not I may have to buy that kit or another bracket.

Thanks again! Mike

 

Those bolts with the torx head on the end are STUDS. It's the nut that goes on over them that retains the bracket to the front of the engine. Remove the nuts, remove the brackets and you'll be left with a couple of those studs sticking out the front of the engine. THEN you can get at them a lot easier than with the brackets on.

BTW- the reason why GM uses those studs is so you can hang the brackets on the front of the engine and THEN start the rest of the bolts. Otherwise, you would have to line up the bracket with one hand and try to get the bolts started with your other hand. Handy to have those studs, but not absolutely required- you can use regular bolts of appropriate length.

 

Damon,

Yes, I have removed the nuts from the studs already but what I am talking about are the bolts themselves....they have a round head with a torx indentation in the middle.

I plan on using the studs on the new engine if I can just get those two bolts to come off.