Cant budge head bolts

cheet22 · Oct 31, 2011

Sorry for starting another thread if this has been covered enough in the past (i found some threads but nothing has worked for me)

I have finally got to heads and cannot budge any of the bolts (bar one) although only tried corners to keep in sequence. Tried wd40, hammering on an impact socket, and all with a 4ft bar. Nothing. Hard as crap!

Ive tried 4 different decentish sockets, one split others have not but still slipping off when really putting weight behind it.

Im in real danger now of rounding the first one i need to crack so anyone got any advice? Unfortunately my compressor died a year back and i never replaced it, would an air impact wrench do the job or screw the heads, if i can hire a compressor etc?

Or has anyone tried any other means?

If i cant budge these im goosed, bigtime. Engine in bits due to suspected head gasket.

jamesmartin · Oct 31, 2011

possibly but stretch bolts dont really suit air or battery guns as the hammer action is neutralised somewhat by stretch in bolt ,you will need proper socket with big bar and maybe irwin or similar socket,cheap impact wont fit bolts properly due to thickness

mad git · Oct 31, 2011

Well Cheet, you sound like ya having fun

, I've had some luck over the years shifting really tight stuff, and I've had some disasters as well.
I suggest to start with using a really good quality socket, that fits. You could try putting pressure on, and then get a mate to hit the socket with a hammer (from the top!!), it might be enough to break it free. But ya need a good strong socket.
Unless you have a really massive air impact gun, forget it, you'll just round off the corners.
Disclaimer; The hammer thing works for me, but I'm not normal

cheet22 · Oct 31, 2011

Ok, sounds like i should get a quality socket (16mm singe hex?) and an irwin set in case this fails.

I can order the irwin from a number of places, anyone suggest what make of socket?

Im desperate to get the heads off, find no evidence of a slipped liners ( please!!) get recon heads, new rockers, tappets and cam maybe, not decided on timing gears yet but might as well, put it all back together before glasgow snow week comes and we all get stranded in 2in of slush! All depends what i find tho.......

jamesmartin · Oct 31, 2011

normally i would recommend hitting bolt head hard as this relaxes tension in bolt thus loosening it but v8 block aint the strongest

jt_armstrong · Oct 31, 2011

When I did one of mine last year the bolts were tighter than the tail on a cat. I was using good quality double hex sockets. I then tried the only single hex socket I had (spark plug socket) and it worked a treat.

roddy4 · Oct 31, 2011

cheet22 said:
Sorry for starting another thread if this has been covered enough in the past (i found some threads but nothing has worked for me)

I have finally got to heads and cannot budge any of the bolts (bar one) although only tried corners to keep in sequence. Tried wd40, hammering on an impact socket, and all with a 4ft bar. Nothing. Hard as crap!

Ive tried 4 different decentish sockets, one split others have not but still slipping off when really putting weight behind it.

Im in real danger now of rounding the first one i need to crack so anyone got any advice? Unfortunately my compressor died a year back and i never replaced it, would an air impact wrench do the job or screw the heads, if i can hire a compressor etc?

Or has anyone tried any other means?

If i cant budge these im goosed, bigtime. Engine in bits due to suspected head gasket.

decent socket, long bar, scaffold pole. worked for me.

wammers · Oct 31, 2011

Head bolts are 5/8" UNF not 16 mm. 16mm is too large and will damage bolts causing rounding. Particularily if you use bihex sockets. You need a good quality socket, Stahlwille or Snapon 5/8" single hex 1/2" drive socket.

cheet22 · Nov 2, 2011

Ok, Just bought an irwin base kit, ordered a stahlwille socket and a 750mm breaker bar for friday (rather than the dodgy piece of tubing i tried yesterday and nearly impaled myself when it bent!)

Will try socket first, if no joy i'll try irwin.

Last resort, petrol and a match.

Looking forward to saturday......Cheers for pointers

Fur Trapper · Nov 2, 2011

Take a good drift punch as close to the bolt head size and give it a good hit with a 3# hammer to all the bolts,should shock them loose. Try all the bolts you will find one that will lossen first then work from there. Would try the ones in the middle first. With a 6point socket so you don't round off the bolt head

cheet22 · Nov 6, 2011

Hi chaps,

Well, got a Stahlwille 'King Dick' 5/8th, plus the base Irwin set. Between them I got the o/s head off pretty quickly yesterday. Great stuff. Can't see any obvious signs of slipped liner (no ridge/seem perfectly level), and gasket although looks ok seems to have signs of leakage on the cyclinder nearest bulkhead. I'll post pics when I can.

Now, n/s head - another matter. Removed steering shaft, removed heatshield (well bolts are out but had to bend it out the way as it wont come out as such). Got all exhaust manifold bolts out except one. the low one right next to bulkhead. How the hell do you get a socket/spanner on this? I thought I'd see if I can get head bolts off and lift off manifold intact, but only got 8 out. Can't get socket on true on the 2 nearest bulkhead (on outside of head) due to manifold ridges. So I just need to get this bugger out. Anyone found this easy with a super thin socket or something? As I say, its right down near the bulkhead, the 12mm star bolt. Socket wont fit between exhaust pipes to get on it.

Was hoping to have both heads off today so I can assess what next, depending on whether I see any bad stuff re slipped liner. So if anyone got any tips for this last damn bolt I sure would appreciate it!

jt_armstrong · Nov 6, 2011

cheet22 said:
Hi chaps,

Well, got a Stahlwille 'King Dick' 5/8th, plus the base Irwin set. Between them I got the o/s head off pretty quickly yesterday. Great stuff. Can't see any obvious signs of slipped liner (no ridge/seem perfectly level), and gasket although looks ok seems to have signs of leakage on the cyclinder nearest bulkhead. I'll post pics when I can.

Now, n/s head - another matter. Removed steering shaft, removed heatshield (well bolts are out but had to bend it out the way as it wont come out as such). Got all exhaust manifold bolts out except one. the low one right next to bulkhead. How the hell do you get a socket/spanner on this? I thought I'd see if I can get head bolts off and lift off manifold intact, but only got 8 out. Can't get socket on true on the 2 nearest bulkhead (on outside of head) due to manifold ridges. So I just need to get this bugger out. Anyone found this easy with a super thin socket or something? As I say, its right down near the bulkhead, the 12mm star bolt. Socket wont fit between exhaust pipes to get on it.

Was hoping to have both heads off today so I can assess what next, depending on whether I see any bad stuff re slipped liner. So if anyone got any tips for this last damn bolt I sure would appreciate it!

I use a 3/8 drive 12mm double hex long reach socket. This should work a treat especially if you have the steering shaft out of the way.

Cant budge head bolts

cheet22

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jamesmartin

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mad git

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jt_armstrong

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roddy4

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wammers

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