need some help guys.... - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

agez_ea · 04-17-2003, 23:16

today i started the pull apart to changeover my head on the EA...
all was good got everything off no worries till i got to the HEAD BOLTS....
i got 4 off with alot of effort i cracked 2 sockets and rounded off 1 bolt, has anyone experienced this much difficulty with them before??? there in soo tight i dunno how i can get them out
can anyone suggest ways to get them out???
any info appreciated???

Falcon_Spac · 04-18-2003, 00:57

Tap the head bolts with a hammer, bit of WD40 around the base of bolt, and a breaker bar with a socket.

Aussiblue · 04-18-2003, 05:09

You should have done it with the engine warm; makes it much easier. Too late now I guess.

NZ · 04-18-2003, 06:31

All I can add id use a single hex socket. Its the friction of the bolt head against the block as once you overcome this theyll easily screw out using your fingers. When i removed the head of an ef motor I got 6 off using a double hex socket, 4, and 3 with a single hex socket after I went and bought one. The 4 i rounded I spent a long time grindint the heads off carfully. 1 was already snapped

04-18-2003, 09:35

For christ sakes, whats with people using 12 point sockets to take off head bolts! Go get yourself a 6 sided hex one and whack it on with the hammer if need be, and hope there is still enough grip to take them out. And you should be working from the outside bolts, in if your not doing that already.

Stop using crap sockets and you won't have any of these problems. I remember having to use a break bar + extension to get enough torque to get my bolts out, and not a single stripped bolt.

Anyways good luck

mongrelEB · 04-19-2003, 02:09

Get good tools mate, then they won't break...

Seriously, if you're going to be doing a lot of your own work it is definitely worth investing a few hundred dollars in a decent socket set; that will last you and probably your grandkids quite well.
In that period of time, you will spend a few grand on replacing cheap crappy tools, and fixing the problems they caused when they broke.

SiX_iN_a_RoW · 04-19-2003, 02:49

yes the difference between cheap and good quality socket sets is astonishing. It doesnt seem as important in spanners etc, but a good socket set will look after you and your bolt heads!

mongrelEB · 04-19-2003, 21:32

Spanners too...

Tell ya what, its amazing: speaking as somebody who wasted a lot of money on cheap tools before getting smart, check the sizes on them.
If you're like me you have a few different part-sets hanging about, compare them - no two tools are the same size! i.e. I have two 10mm spanners, one is 9.8 (according to the Vernier calipers) and the other one is 9.2!!!!
The others are just as bad. This lack of accuracy is why cheap tools damage bolts.

agez_ea · 04-20-2003, 02:17

well thanks for all the info guys....
and just incase this was not carried out with a cheap socket set.....
i spent 250$ on a sidchrome set & it still broke/bent etc, anything more exspensive and i wouldnt be trying to fix it myself as im tryin to save some $$$, ill have a go at the 6 sided hex with a hammer see how it goes
thanks again :)

old_mate · 04-20-2003, 03:46

Go and buy another cheap socket.....and weld the socket to the bolt. Then go and grab the biggest damn breaker bar u can....

Works for me !!!!