Need help! Rocker shaft bolt broke in head. Need removal advice

[Drewskie02]

Alright, so I'm gently torqueing the rocker arm shaft bolts to the heads - following the directions and starting in the middle and working my way out and around. I was probably being over conservative and going a half turn at a time trying to torque to 15 ft/lbs when all of a sudden as I'm torqueing the center bolt, it shears off with half of it in the head.

Here is the dillemma... what's the best way to get the bolt out without tearing up my heads?

... and, what's the proper toque for the rocker arm shaft bolts for a 360? Hayne's manual says 15 ft/lbs. and Edelbrock says 25.

Thanks for your help!!

 

[ValiantMike]

You really don't have many options. Remove rocker assembly and if bolt section is above surface of head maybe you can get a tool on it and try to remove. Otherwise drill a hole in remaining section of bolt, install an easy-out, and carefully back out section of broken bolt. Mike

P.S. If you have to drill out bolt, be sure to have a vacuum running to collect metal chips, and be sure to cover all surrounding areas with rags, etc., to keep contaminates out of engine.

 

[briankaplan]

The tool manufactures make left hand drill bits. If you can get
your hands on one, you could try it. A lot of times they will
hook in the bolt and turn it right out. I got a set from Snap On
and it came with the easy outs. Good luck. Cover everything up
well and keep a vacumn close to pic up the metal. Hope you don't
have to pull the head.

 

[dusterdon]

I'd consider taking off the head and getting it to a machine shop for removal. If you try to do it yourself and fail a lot of shops won't touch it because you've buggered it up. Won't cost you much but your time.

 

[demon seed]

Yea you got to drill it and use a easy out to get it out. I suggest that you first use a center punch to get her right in the middle and start with a drill bit 1/2 the size of the bit that the easy out calls for as a pilot hole. Figure out the maximum depth that drill bit will go to the bottom of the threaded hole and wrap some electric tap around the bit as an indicator so that you don't go into the actual head material.

Terry