Last friday when I was coming home from firebird my belts started squeeking, i thought the alt. belt had just come loose or something no big deal right? today I'm tightening up all my belts and stuff when i notice on the bottom part of the alt. bracket the bolt was loose, i start tightening it and it just spins, i pull it out and shine a flash light to where the bolt goes in the head and sure enough the bolt broke off in the head, any ideas on how to get this out without pulling everything off the front/top part of my engine? Its a 350 serpentine setup so the alt on the pass side top. Thanks....sorry so long

 

i've had good luck with easy outs a few times, just get the biggest you can fit so it doesnt break off. they're sorta like reverse thread tapered drll bits. you drill a small hole in the broken bolt and then screw in the easy out (lefty tighty) as the easy out goes deeper it grabs more of the hold since it's tapered and eventually will grab enough that the bolt unscrews it self. try not to break teh easy out cuz it's hardened steel and is a bear to drill through.

if the bolt isn't broken off flush with the head then i'd try to grab it with vice grips first.

 

I agree. EZouts are a builders best friend. Just dont break the drill and take the EZout real slow. Like U-train said, they are extremely difficult to get out. But they work wonders. Just be patient.

 

i'd never use an easy out, you break one you're screwed. depending on how it is and clearance and such i'd weld a nut on the stub and wrench it out or drill and tap it. it helps a lot if you can find a left hand tap drill. lot of times the broke stub will come out with the drill before you even have to retap the hole.

 

Use a lefthand drill bit to drill your hole for the easyout, the broken bolt might back out while drilling. Don't use anything smaller than a #3 easyout and make sure you drill deep enough to get the easyout in almost halfway. If you break the easyout (doubtful you'll break a #3) use a good quality carbide bit to drill it out of there. Start small (1/8") and go up to 5/32" for the easyout.

 

thanks for the help guys, im not gonna be able to try until this weekend ..