Today I decided to clean my MAF sensor. As I was poking about in the engine bay I decided it was as good a time as any to start applying penetrative oil to my cat-to-manifold nuts, as I have been planning for some time to gut the pre-cats over the August bank holiday weekend (the warranty expires next week and this is the first opportunity I'll have after that).
I removed the heatshield and the back drip tray, but when I came to remove the bolts securing the back part of the second drip tray, all three sheared off; they were as rusty as anything.
Anyway, my questions are as follows:
1) Is it OK to leave the heatshield off for now, as it's only 4-5 weeks until I'm going to be working on the manifold, and I'd like to take the opportunity to paint it in a leisurely fashion in the mean time (and source some replacement rust-proof bolts - anyone know what the best type is)?
2) I understand that there is some sort of tool that's available to remove sheared bolts. Can anyone point me to an on-line source for this? As well as the sheared drip tray bolts, some people may remember my post about one of the bolts under my passenger side seat shearing off, so I would maybe then be able to sort that out too. Also, one of my major concerns when it comes to doing the gutting work is that one (or more s:shock: :shock: s:shock: ) of the manifold to cat bolts will shear.
3) One of the five bolts securing the manifold to the engine block looks extremely difficult to get at - is it manageable with a standard 12" extended socket?
4) Do I really need a vice to accomplish the actual gutting? I don't have one, and would rather not have to buy one if possible.
I'd be very grateful for any help/guidance as I'm quite nervous about the pre-cat gutting as it is, without having to worry about these things...
1) Yes
2) Easy Out -- available many places
2/ Easy Out / Stud extractors. Hardly ever work though, as the bolts seem to become one with the parent metal. I prefer drilling and tapping to a larger size.
3/ Yes
4/ No...
Quote from: "GSB"2/ Easy Out / Stud extractors. Hardly ever work though, as the bolts seem to become one with the parent metal. I prefer drilling and tapping to a larger size.
Agreed
I was especially fortunate to have a stud extractor snap within the hole drilled. You try drilling that out s:cry: :cry: s:cry: