8 replies to this topic

[movistar600]

fitted a new radiator and water pump today to my 1990 998 and when removing rad mount from thermostat both bolts turned to dust , thermostat housing seems to be holding but i'm gonna have to remove , is this common and are the broken studs easy to remove ?

 

any suggestions welcome

[geoff-d]

Yes get it warm undo the bolts then take stat housing off & use grips to remove studs . If they are in head & flush you will have to use stud extractors . I have a good set if you get into trouble. Apart from the bolts how did the rest of it turn out

[Cooperman]

Remove the thermostat cover and thermostat after draining the coolant.

If the studs still have some length projecting out of the head you can weld nuts onto the studs and with the studs still hot from the welding they will probably unscrew.

If not, you will need to cut the studs off flush with the head and drill them out. The fit Heli-Coil thread repair inserts - the size is 1/4" UNC - and fit new studs available from all the main Mini Spares vendors.

It is a very common problem. If it happens to me I usually take the head off and do the job 'on the bench' as it's easier to drill out and Heli-Coil using a pillar drill. If you don't have the equipment you can take the head to a local machine shop. Be sure to fit 1/4" UNC Heli-Coils, not 1/4" UNF.

Do not use stud extractors as, if/when the extractor breaks it is just one hell of a job doing the repair (been there, done that).

Edited by Cooperman, 21 November 2013 - 11:14 PM.

[movistar600]

thanks Cooperman , hope the studs protruding , will make life easier !

[Cooperman]

thanks Cooperman , hope the studs protruding , will make life easier !

Let us know how it goes., Good luck with it.

[Fast Ivan]

if you get stuck then I can help, I'm in southampton, not to far

[robminibcy]

hi sorry to hijack but I need to drill and tap holes for the heater tap. I've been told these are 1/4 unf but seeing this im a bit concerned that actually they might be unc as it would seem daft to have differant threads in the same component. can someone confirm?

[Cooperman]

They are 1/4" UNF. BMC did some strange things in their design office!

[robminibcy]

Ok cheers!