6 replies to this topic

[bradderz]

hi i have a 1991 mini cooper 1.3i.

when i bought the mini two of the three screws that hold down the airbox have had the heads cut off, and i am assuming that was because they were not coming loose. so now i have two screws sticking out the top of the throttle body without heads, and the airbox is not tight and held down properly and has a big gap.

any ideas on how to get the buggers out? i have tried mole grips and made it as tight as possible, but nothing, it just slips.

thanks

[satvinder]

how thick are these screws???

[mini danny]

hi i have a 1991 mini cooper 1.3i.

when i bought the mini two of the three screws that hold down the airbox have had the heads cut off, and i am assuming that was because they were not coming loose. so now i have two screws sticking out the top of the throttle body without heads, and the airbox is not tight and held down properly and has a big gap.

any ideas on how to get the buggers out? i have tried mole grips and made it as tight as possible, but nothing, it just slips.

thanks

you could try drilling them out but someone will prob have a easyer way of doing it

[mike174]

You could try cutting a slot in the top of them and use a flat bladed screw driver to remove them or weld a nut on to them and use a socket.

Mike

[satvinder]

i was going to say if the screws are quite thick in diameter you could try to drill a whole throu the side of it and then put a small allen key in and try twist it out, make it into a T_bar. i had to do this to a oil filter hosing stud that was stuck in the block as some one i knew wanted to change it to the type where it bolts onto the block. that work a treat for mee. managed to get it out with out breaking anything.and only damaged the stud that was in the block but that was going to be chucked anyway.

[L400RAS]

Is it these screws you are referring to?

The OP says he is using mole grips to tighten these? - If i read it correctly, the screws now have no heads on them - so of course they will not keep the airbox tight.
Remove the one screw that you can, then remove the airbox - should just slide up if the others have no heads... then using the molegrips, grip the remaining thread, and remove them , and bin them.

Buy yourself 3x shiney new screws, use a pozi number 3 screwdriver to refit and your laughing.

Ryan

[bradderz]

no i said that i tried using mole grips to get the screws out but wouldnt budge.

anyway, my brother tried some of this freezing spray, which freezes it to about 43 degrees, then loosen the screw off with the mole grips. unfortunately one of the screws snapped at the bottom and cant get a grip on it, so gonna have to drill it out, when i can be bovard. but now got 2 screws holding the airbox down and a much tighter fit