Broken screw! Help!!! (94 Caprice)

[Amen]

I changed the thermostat in my 94 Caprice 5.7L yesterday and when i tightened the 2 bolts back onto the thermostat housing, the right one broke. Now the housing is loose and it leaks coolant from that spot. Anyone have any tricks to get the bottom half of the screw out? PLEASE help. Thanks.

[rhandwor]

Originally Posted by Amen

I changed the thermostat in my 94 Caprice 5.7L yesterday and when i tightened the 2 bolts back onto the thermostat housing, the right one broke. Now the housing is loose and it leaks coolant from that spot. Anyone have any tricks to get the bottom half of the screw out? PLEASE help. Thanks.

Is it broken flush or does it have enough to try vise grips or a broken stud remover.
You can center punch the bolt and drill a pilot hole and try an easy out.
Try a left hand drill bit first.
What is the intake manifold made out of and what size is the bolt. If cast iron buy a new bolt ,tap and center punch. Drill full size for with the drill required for the tap.
A good hardware will help you out.
Remember if you use silicon use a small screwdriver and clean bolt holes I broke a couple of 5/16 bolts with a 1/4 drive. It seems to multiple torque when in the bolt hole.

[96capricemgr]

That year car has the thermostat housing mounted to the waterpump. So if extracting the screw with the suggested methods does not work a simple WP swap would fix this.

Many of the service manuals for these cars have some incorrect torque specs, the thermostat housing sticks in my mind as one listed in ft.lbs. when it should be in.lbs so if you follow the manual you will snap the bolt trying to make it 12 times tighter than necessary.

[Amen]

Yes, the thermostat housing is mounted to the water pump. I just tightened the right bolt too much. I hope I can get it out. I really don't want to get a new water pump installed over an $8 thermostat change.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by Amen

Yes, the thermostat housing is mounted to the water pump. I just tightened the right bolt too much. I hope I can get it out. I really don't want to get a new water pump installed over an $8 thermostat change.

just get a reverse drill bit and it will come right out.

be careful as some of these bolts may be too long causing you to snap off the bolt. use thread sealant when installing the bolts.torque evenly until secure. just use a 1//4in ratchet.

use the housing as a drill guide