So I'm doing a head gasket replacement this past weekend. The tear down on Saturday went really well, stopped at the heads. I go out Sunday morning and the first bolt to do is the LH side #1 head bolt. I end up snapping the thing. There's about 1 inch of bolt / stud still there. I did get the head off. Blown gasket at #7 and almost blown at #5. I try a couple of sears bolt extractors with no luck. How do I get this bolt out? Maybe try putting 2 nuts? Maybe try a ratcheting extractor that previous posters have suggested? I'm worried that I've screwed this engine. Any thoughts? ...

 

I'd start with several doses of PB Blaster over a few hours. If there are enough threads, use two nuts as you mentioned and maybe a bit of GENTLE heat on the block.

Good luck.

 

heat and oil is the normal. Let me know if you have to do thread repair i just went through all that on 4 stripped head bolt holes in my block.

 

If there's threads on the bolt left try the two nuts method. If there are threads or that doesn't work a good old pipe wrench would probably do the trick.

 

Get a larger coupling nut for more grip and a regular nut. PB blaster and be patient and let it soak for longer period. Good luck

 

Scorched on 7 and a bit on 5



Deck scorching on 7



Fairly clean- maybe done before...



Internals, reddish brown in valley. Rocker arms fairly clean.

 

those pistons are almost to clean.. it had to be the bolt back there that broke off. you may have to drill a hole in a piece of flat bar slip it over the bolt and weld it just be careful not to to get the bolt to hot.

 

X1 ........... good luck, what a bitch eh.

 

Good idea, last resort tactic though.

 

Use a good penetrating oil, and tap on it and add a little heat if you can. If you don;t have enough room for 2 nuts (it's hard to tell from the photo) maybe some vice grips if the penetrating fluid & heat loosens it up.
I've used this method for several broken bolts, but never a head bolt.