12 replies to this topic

[Madmax]

hey guys. i brought the car back from leicester the other day, went fine, no problems at all. The last couple of days the cars been burning some oil, which i think is down to the fact that the rocker cover gasket has been tightened down too much, which has split the gasket, oils been getting into the exhaust manifold and burning. There is also a leak from the thermostat housing gasket, which has created alot of dry rust type residue, now, heres the problem. Me and flappyplasticbits have worked on the car, taken all the nessescary bits off. When we come to the thermostat housing, we see that some kind of instant gasket has been used. Also on inspection the gasket around the edge has peeled away, possibly causing this leak. We try to undo the bolts holding it on (u know, the 3 bolts in a triangular formation). They seemed to budge, however its only now, on my own, after trying to losen them off a bit more, that they have sheered in two. I have managed to get the top half of the housing off, as there is no thread on the top of the bolts, but the lower half is stuck fast. Now i know i could just drill them out, and re-tap the thread, but this is cast iron, and i need a UF tap and die set too. Is there any other way i can remove these "studs" that are left in the head?

Im very annoyed, as when i went over the car head to toe everything seemed fine, now i have the car back at home, all the bits seem to be going wrong or leaking. GRR

If anyone can help my situation, please give me a PM or email.
Thanks alot people, hope you can give me some advice.

James

[Bluemini]

Have the studs snapped off flush to the head? If they are still out about 1/2" then get a stud extractor on them and plent of WD40. You can buy a stud extractor set (like deep sockets) from Machine Mart for £17.

If they are snapped to low to get a hold of, then you'll probly have to drill em out. Try taking the head to your local engineers and see if they can do anything tho before you get your drill out.

[Madmax]

2 have snapped below the line of the lower thermostat housing, one is protruding about an inch, i was thinking of going to a scrappy and buying a new metro head for 20 quid, saves a load of time i suppose.

[Bluemini]

If the head you've got is good, then jus get it sorted. Take it an engineers and get them to remove the studs, it'll only cost a couple of quid...

[Purple Tom]

I had a similar problem with mine when I came to do the thermostat, but luckily didn't break them because my dad was round to help. What we did was got a blowtorch on the actual aluminium casting of the housing, and heated it gently, being careful not to get the fan or rocker cover too hot. The housing then expanded enough to enable it to be hit gently with a small knockometer, which shook the corrosion holding the housing to the studs free, enabling us to get the housing off. If you try doing that, then you should be able to get the housing off, get the thermostat out then use a stud extractor on the studs. Just soak them in WD or GT85 over night, then try undoing them. They should come out then.

It saves taking your head off anyway!

Tom

[Madmax]

well, ive managed to get the top half of the casing off, as well as the thermostat, just the bottom half remains, two studs below the surface, one above, ive tried to shift the bottom half with a screwdriver and whacking stick, being very careful, but its stuck fast.

i guess i`ll have to get a stud extractor, cant be doing with taking the head off

James

[Purple Tom]

They tend to suffer very badly from electrolytic corrosion there, partly because of the antifreeze thats very nearby, partly because of spray coming through the grille (always seems to be worse on clubby's), but mostly because its steel and aluminium, and they don't like being put next to each other, especially when water is in the equation! The ally corrodes, and sticks to the steel studs like sticky stuff, but heat usually does the trick!

Tom

[Woody]

you could sacrifice the lower half of the ally casting , remove it with a chisel , there would be enuf of the bolt showing to get a good pair of vise-grips on , or if they are broken off level with the head , get a large nut , place it over the stud and mig weld the nut to the stud and while its still hot use a spaner to unscrew it, and if all else fails drill and tap it out ,you can hire the corect size tap and drill bit from a hire shop .

[Bluemini]

you can hire the corect size tap and drill bit from a hire shop

Ha ha, I used to work for Hewden Hire Centres, one of the bigges tool hire companies in the country and we didnt even have tap and die sets in the workshop, let alone for hire or sale... lol :nugget: :grin:

[Madmax]

a mate of mines got a UF tap and die set, so i should be ok for the re-tapping, just gotta get the pain in the arse bottom housing off, im gonna follow the blowtorch route, see what happens :fear:

James

[bluebottle]

when you re-assemble it, put some copper ease, or anti seize on the studs, so this wont happen again!

[adam c]

Just to add a bit more, had a few bolts sheer on an old stationary engine i was restoring, i tried molegrips on the ones that stuck out but they didn't have the grip, the best way is to take your vice of the bench and use this, they'll either shift or sheer off again in which case you'll have to drill it any way.
Good luck....

[Madmax]

thanks adam c, usefull advice gonna work on it all day tomorrow, see what happens